China's fallen politician appeals guilty verdict

BEIJING (AP) — Disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has appealed his guilty verdict, in a rare move that is consistent with his defiant stance but unlikely to change the outcome.

A person close to the case said the former Politburo member made the appeal orally to an intermediate court on Sunday when it convicted him of embezzlement, bribery and abuse of power and sentenced him to life in prison. Bo denied all charges during the trial.

The source said the written appeal to the higher court — Shandong Provincial Supreme People's Court — would be submitted soon.

An appeal is unlikely to change the outcome because the verdict is believed to be a decision of China's highest leadership, which controls the court system.