China's Xi gains power with merger of anti-corruption bodies

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign stands to gain a major boost as the ceremonial legislature moves to establish a powerful new agency with authority over vast numbers of workers in the public sector.

The National People's Congress began a third and final reading Tuesday of the draft supervision law described by state media as "aiming at a centralized, unified, authoritative and efficient supervisory network under the (Communist) Party's leadership."

The law would merge the party's anti-graft watchdog body with one overseeing the civil service to form a new National Supervision Commission, defined as a political body independent of the Cabinet, courts and prosecutors, raising fears of political abuse.

The body will have the right to detain suspects for up to six months without seeking a judge's permission.