Ex-top Chinese politician Bo Xilai to stand trial Thursday: Xinhua

BEIJING - The Assocaited Press

China's former Chongqing Municipality Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai looks on during a meeting at the annual session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, in this file picture taken March 6, 2010. REUTERS photo

A Chinese court says Bo Xilai, a rising Communist Party star who fell from power in a messy scandal, will go on trial Thursday on corruption charges.
 
Sunday's announcement set the party on course to wrap up a scandal that Chinese leaders who took power last year want to put behind them as they try to cement their authority.
 
The Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Jinan said Bo will stand trial there on charges of taking bribes, embezzlement and abuse of power.
 
Bo, a former party boss for the major city of Chongqing, was dismissed last year in a sandal that saw his wife convicted of killing a British businessman.