China's Supreme Court takes aim at disgraced Zhou Yongkang and Bo Xilai

The Supreme People's Court has for the first time accused disgraced top cadres Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai and others of engaging in political activities "not approved" by the Communist Party.

The claim was made in the court's annual work report published on Wednesday in a section on the need to strengthen education on obeying discipline and avoiding corruption in the judicial system.

The report said that court staff should "clearly recognise the serious damage" caused by Zhou, Bo and others, who "trampled on the rule of law, undermined the party's solidarity, and engaged in political activities [not approved by the party]. It did not elaborate.

"The adverse influence of Zhou's violations of law and party discipline on the court's work should be thoroughly rooted out," it said.

Speculation is mounting that Zhou, the nation's former security tsar, and former Chongqing party chief Bo had formed factions to challenge the leadership of the party.

The day after the Politburo's decision to expel Zhou from the party on December 5, said in a commentary that factions would not be tolerated.