Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai and former henchman Wang Lijun traded accusations of treachery and violence over the weekend as the country’s most dramatic political trial in decades continued to offer rare glimpses of life at the top of the Communist party.

The trial of Mr Bo, the former Chongqing Communist party leader and politburo member, on charges of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power is due to continue for a fifth day today.

However, the weekend testimony, relayed via official, censored transcripts, maintained the drama that has made it the most closely followed trial in China since the conviction of Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong’s wife, in 1980. The two men’s exchanges again revealed the sort of high-level intrigues and conspiracies normally kept well hidden by the Communist elite.