Jiabao warns ruling Communist Party can lose power if it fails to check corruption

Beijing, Apr 17(ANI): Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has warned that the ruling Communist Party could lose its grip on power unless it imposes stronger supervision of its senior leaders to combat corruption.

In an essay published in the party journal, Seeking Truth, Wen reiterated his previous warnings that corruption within the Chinese leadership could cause "both people and the administration to perish".

"We should have profound understanding that corruption is the biggest threat to the ruling party. This problem were not addressed properly, the nature of regime could change and both people and the administration could perish. This is an extremely severe test we face," The Age quoted Jiabao, as saying.

His warning comes after the dramatic purging of a Communist Party leader Bo Xilai from its ruling elite. His wife Gu Kailai was earlier detained on suspicion of murdering British national Neil Heywood.

Many analysts believe Bo's purge was a part of the strategy devised by his opponents to bury him ahead of a crucial once-in-a-decade leadership transition.

But a Xinhua commentary said the case was "nothing to do with political struggle", but merely an isolated example of greed and corruption. (ANI)