Chinese politician Bo Xilai initially agreed to a police probe of his wife’s role in the murder of a British businessman before abruptly reversing course and demoting his police chief, causing upheavals that led to the downfall of both men, sources said.
The sources’ account gives new details of the dramatic breakdown in relations between Bo, an ambitious leader who cast himself as the crime-fighting boss of Chongqing, China’s biggest municipality, and his once trusted police chief, Wang Lijun.
Reuters reported on Monday that Briton Neil Heywood was poisoned last November after he threatened to expose a plan by Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, to move money abroad.
The scandal is potentially the most divisive the Communist Party has faced since Zhao Ziyang was sacked as Party chief in 1989 for opposing the brutal army crackdown on student-led demonstrations for democracy centered on Tiananmen Square in Beijing that year.
EXCLUSIVE: China’s Bo backed, then blocked murder probe against his wife
Soul singer Adele added to her awards haul at the 2012 BRITs on Tuesday and set the biggest night in British pop alight with a rousing performance of “Rolling In the Deep.”
Receiving her album award, Adele said:
“Nothing makes me prouder than coming home with six Grammys, then coming to the BRITs and winning album of the year. I’m so proud to be British and to be flying the flag and I’m so proud to be in the room with all of you.”
She was cut off half way through her speech by presenter and comedian James Corden, presumably to squeeze in band Blur’s closing set for broadcast.
Still photographs showed Adele making a gesture with her middle finger, although it was not clear whether it was caught on television.
