Bo Xilai supporters rounded up in advance of trial Beijing: China has arrested supporters and opponents of Bo Xilai before the fallen politician enters the dock for the country's biggest political trial in decades. Several of Mr Bo's supporters have been either detained or put under police surveillance ahead of the trial on corruption charges, which could take place at the end of next week. Wang Zheng, a Beijing teacher who wrote an open letter backing Mr Bo, said she could not meet journalists because "the police are sitting next to me." Ma Jiming, another supporter, wrote a message on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, on August 8 that said: "My account has been closed. This is the new one. I want you to know I am safe. Currently I cannot use this Weibo. I guess you all know the reason why. Song Yangbiao, a prominent journalist and supporter of Mr Bo, was arrested on August 5 in Beijing. One of his friends said Mr Song was arrested for an internet post in support of the former Chongqing party chief. "One should not be arrested for just speaking and it is groundless to accuse him of picking quarrels and inciting trouble," said the friend. It was not possible to contact Wang Xuemei, a forensic expert at the Supreme People's Procuratorate who embarrassed the authorities by stating that there was little evidence to show that Neil Heywood, the British businessman whose death led to Mr Bo's downfall, had been poisoned by cyanide, as claimed by investigators. Li Xuehui, a petitioner who has called for an open and transparent trial, said he had been warned by a "special channel of the authorities" not to attend the court in Jinan. In Chongqing, one source said police had been forced to cancel all holiday since July 28 and had stepped up their vigilance against any sign of support for Mr Bo. "This extends to stopping older residents from taking part in open-air dance meetings," he said. Han Lian, a 65-year-old Chongqing resident, said the police were telling dancers that they were creating too much noise. Forums devoted to Mr Bo on China's QQ internet chat service and on Weixin, a mobile phone chat service, have also been closed. One of Mr Bo's critics has also been arrested, suggesting the government is keen to avoid any debate about the outcome of the proceedings. Fang Hong, a forestry official in Chongqing, has been detained since July 30, according to a Japanese newspaper that managed to contact him. Mr Fang said police told him: "You cannot leave here until the trial is over." It was not possible to contact him independently. Additional reporting by Adam Wu