China's Bo Xilai likely to face criminal trial

BEIJING (AFP) - Fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai is likely to face criminal trial for trying to protect his wife from murder charges, analysts said on Thursday, after his former police chief was tried for defection.

But they said the man who was once one of China's most-high profile politicians, tipped for a place on the country's top decision-making body, was likely to escape more serious accusations and would probably be imprisoned.

The comments came after the state-run news agency Xinhua released a detailed and lengthy report on the trial of Wang Lijun, Mr Bo's former right-hand man, for defection, bribery and other offences.

It said Wang briefed the "main person responsible" for the Chongqing Communist party committee - which Mr Bo headed - about the suspected role of the politician's wife Gu Kailai in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.