(Reuters) - China's most politically sensitive trial in three decades opened on
Thursday with police dragging two protesters away from a courthouse where the
wife of ousted Politburo member Bo Xilai is expected to be swiftly convicted of
murder.
The two Bo supporters were dragged kicking and yelling into a police car
after they had appeared outside the courthouse in the eastern city of Hefei,
singing patriotic songs that were the trademark of Bo's populist leadership
style and condemning the trial as a sham.
"I don't believe it. This case was decided well in advance," Hu Jiye, a
middle-aged man wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap, told foreign reporters at
the rear of the court building.
Hu and his friend were then shoved by plainclothed police into a car. His
companion, also a middle-aged man, struggled, yelling "Why are you taking me?
Why are you taking me?"
The trial of Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, is seen by many Chinese as part of a push
against Bo, an ambitious populist who made powerful enemies as he campaigned to
join the next generation of top central leaders.
Bo was formerly considered a contender for the inner sanctum of power - the
party's Politburo Standing Committee - in a once-in-a-decade leadership
transition that is currently underway. The new leadership is expected to be
unveiled in October.
Gu and her co-accused, a family aide, are charged with poisoning Briton Neil
Heywood last year in a case that has rocked the Communist Party
leadership.
A Hefei official told reporters the hearing was likely to end at around 11
a.m. local time (0300 GMT), when a court official would give a statement to
reporters. It was not clear if the official was indicating the end of the trial,
or simply Thursday's session.
There was no word when the verdict or sentencing would be announced
Read more at REUTERS
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