UK, US discuss businessman's murder in China

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has discussed the murder of businessman Neil Heywood with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Foreign Office said tonight. British officials have also discussed the case with their US counterparts in Beijing, while there have been further discussions in London and Washington, Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said. Last week, Hague gave a detailed written account to the House of Commons about what the Foreign Office knew of Heywood's death. In his written statement, he said the Chinese investigation was launched following repeated requests from the UK in November. Washington became involved after former Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun made allegations about Heywood's death to US officials on February 6. But under pressure from MPs last week to reveal why Britain did not intervene sooner over the murder of the 41-year-old businessman, Hague did not mention talks with Clinton. Today, in a written answer to Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, Browne said: "British embassy staff in Beijing discussed the case with US officials in Beijing following Wang Kijun's visits to the US Consulate in Chengdu. Foreign Office officials have also had regular discussions with US officials in Washington and London." He said Hague discussed the case with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Last week, the Foreign Affairs parliamentary Committee also asked Hague about Heywood's profession and whether he had supplied information to the British Consulate or Embassy. State media reports in China have suggested that investigations by authorities there indicate Heywood was a victim of homicide. He was a friend of the family of Bo Xilai, a former rising star in Chinese politics who served as local party chief in Chongqing but was suspended from the Politburo in April amid allegations of "serious discipline violations". Chinese authorities initially said Heywood's death was down to alcohol over-consumption but Hague admitted last week that Foreign Office staff were aware on January 18 of rumours that there may have been suspicious circumstances. It was not until after a former Chongqing vice-mayor and chief of police Wang Lijun raised the concerns with the US consulate on February 6 that officials informed Hague. The UK subsequently asked China to investigate, which it has now promised to do.