Ex-police chief charged

The ex-police chief at the centre of China's biggest political scandal for years has been charged with a number of offences.

According to Chinese state media, Wang Lijun is charged with defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking.

He briefly fled to a US consulate in February, triggering a series of events that led to the downfall of the powerful politician Bo Xilai.

Bo Xilai's wife has since been given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Bo had been tipped for promotion to China's highest leadership this year.

The BBC said the charges against Wang appear to be an attempt to bring the scandal to an end before China embarks on a change of leadership later this year.