Beijing (AFP) Oct 13, 2010
A group of former top communist officials and media leaders has issued an open letter to China's government calling for political reform, but authorities have attempted to suppress the appeal.

The bluntly-worded letter focused on the lack of freedom of expression and comes as the Communist Party readies for a pivotal meeting later this week expected to give hints on the country's future political direction.

"If the Communist Party does not reform itself, does not transform, it will lose its vitality and die a natural death," said the letter which was posted on the Internet.

The letter has since been deleted from chatrooms on major portals, apparently by government censors, but was still popping up in some more obscure chat rooms.