Bo Xilai was once tipped for the highest offices in China
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Bo Xilai scandal
Transcripts – Day Three
Transparency or theatre?
China media: Bo Xilai denials
Key players
The corruption trial of former top Chinese politician Bo Xilai has entered its fifth day in the eastern city of Jinan.
Correspondents say his closing arguments will be closely watched in one of China’s most politically charged trials for decades.
Mr Bo, a former Communist Party chief in Chongqing, denies charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power.
On Sunday, Mr Bo denounced his former associate who testified against him.
Mr Bo launched a scathing attack on Wang Lijun, the former police chief of Chongqing, saying his testimony was "full of lies and fraud".
Foreign media are not allowed into the trial, but the court in the eastern city of Jinan has been posting regular updates on China’s micro-blogging site Weibo (in Mandarin).
Mr Bo, 64, said on Sunday that his court statements so far had responded to specific evidence, but that on Monday he would address the whole case against him.
The BBC’s Debra Xu in Hong Kong says the trial has been carefully choreographed, with edited court transcripts released daily, giving the impression of openness and transparency. But some observers have commented that Mr Bo has not confronted his enemies or accused them of putting him on trial for political reasons.
On Monday Mr Bo may challenge them directly, our correspondent adds.
Two years ago he was seen as a candidate for promotion to the Politburo Standing Committee, China’s top decision-making body.
But in February 2012, as the country prepared for its once-in-a-decade leadership handover, questions emerged over the death of a British businessman, Neil Heywood.
Mr Bo’s downfall was seen as the biggest political shake-up to hit China’s ruling elite in decades. His wife, Gu Kailai, has since been convicted of Mr Heywood’s murder.
via BBC News – China's Bo Xilai corruption trial enters fifth day.
