Beijing: China has directed police across the country to safeguard social stability to avoid protests and violence from taking place, ahead of the crucial Congress of the ruling Communist Party.
Zhou Yongkang, a senior leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), in-charge of national security, told the Conference of provincial police chiefs in Dalian yesterday to safeguard social stability for the 18th Congress of the CPC to be held in the coming weeks.
CPC is set to select a new leadership replacing the current lot of leaders, including President Hu Jintao, at the Congress.
The leadership is replaced every ten years by the Party.
Recently the party faced piquant situation after senior party leader Bo Xilai was sacked after his wife Gu Kailai was given a suspended death sentence for the murder of a British businessman, Neil Heywood.
Supporters of Bo, who was believed to be a hard-liner attempting to revive old Maoist-era police were purged from the party and the administration.
The government has already ordered heavy security around the Tiananmen square area as the Congress was expected to be held at the Great Hall of People located there.
Authorities have removed hawkers around the place for the Congress to be held.
Also no demonstrations of any sort would be allowed during that period. Dates for the Congress have not been announced yet.
PTI
