Bo Xilai trial begins in the eastern city of Jinan where he faces charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power (Photo: AP/Jinan Intermediate People's Court)

A VOV correspondent in China reported that 110 people, including five of Bo’s family members, attended the trial, which was held under extremely tight security, with police sealing off nearby roads and lining up to form a barricade. Bo is the most senior of several Chinese officials to face a judge recently. The case comes at a time when China’s new leaders are promising greater efforts to fight corruption.