Ex-Xinjiang paramilitary commander expelled

A former commander of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a unique paramilitary organization in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was expelled from the Party after a corruption probe, China's top anti-graft authority announced on Wednesday.

In addition to being expelled, Liu Xinqi, 60, former commander and deputy Party chief of the corps - a ministerial-level post - was demoted to a divisional-level non-leadership position for obstructing disciplinary investigations, promoting officials against procedures and abusing his power to secure benefits for others, according to a statement released by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The statement said Liu allowed his son to accept bribes from others. He also allowed relatives to use his name in business transactions, and knew that they received gifts and money as a result, the statement said.