26 July 2012 Last updated at 08:11 ET

Bo Xilai scandal: Key players

A quick guide to the key figures in the political turmoil surrounding former Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai, triggered by suspected murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

A full guide to the personalities involved can be found here.

Bo Xilai scandal: Key players
Who	Connection	Role in scandal
Bo Xilai	Former Communist Party chief of Chongqing and Politburo member	Once tipped for high office and described as the nearest thing China had to a Western-style politician. He was removed as Chongqing party chief for "serious discipline violations", rumoured to be related to the death of British businessman Neil Heywood and the visit of his former police chief Wang Lijun to a US consulate, apparently seeking protection.
Gu Kailai	Wife of Bo Xilai	Mr Bo's wife, who trained as a lawyer and speaks fluent English, was reported to have had "economic interests" with Mr Heywood. On 26 July, state media reported that she had been charged with "intentional homicide".
Bo Guagua	Son of Bo Xilai	Educated at Oxford and currently studying at Harvard, he has been the subject of rumours because of his alleged lavish lifestyle. There have been reports that Mr Heywood helped Bo Guagua gain admission into the expensive British private school Harrow.
Neil Heywood	British businessman	Mr Heywood lived in China from the early 1990s, and was fluent in Mandarin. Met Bo Xilai and his wife while living in north-eastern city of Dalian in the mid-1990s. Relationship with Mr Bo reported to be strained by 2010. Found dead in Chongqing hotel room on 15 November, 2011.
Wang Lijun	Former Chongqing police chief	Police chief and vice-mayor in Chongqing who once enjoyed close ties with Mr Bo. He fled to the US consulate in Chengdu, near Chongqing, on 6 February, reportedly to seek asylum, triggering Mr Bo's downfall. He gave himself up to Chinese police and is now in detention.
Zhou Yongkang	Politburo's Standing Committee member	Considered to have been Bo Xilai's mentor. Member of Politburo's powerful nine-member Standing Committee. Also secretary of Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs, which controls police and security forces. Unverified rumours that he was under investigation.
Wen Jiabao	China's premier	Bo Xilai's dismissal has been interpreted as part of political struggle between supporters of former president Jiang Zemin, and supporters of Mr Wen and President Hu Jintao. Mr Wen indirectly criticised Bo Xilai at National People's Congress news conference in April.
Patrick Devillers	French architect with ties to Bo family	Patrick Devillers reportedly had close ties to the Bo family. He was detained in Cambodia, where he lives, before voluntarily flying to China on 17 July. Reports say Chinese authorities wanted to talk to him as a witness. It is unclear where he is and if he is under investigation, but he has met French diplomats who say he is in "good shape".