British authorities have asked China to reinvestigate the death of British businessman Neil Heywood at a hotel at Chongqing, China. Chongqing is a stronghold of the recently ousted Communist Party Secretary Bo Xilai.

Heywood's sudden death was credited to alcohol poisoning by the local investigating authorities. But now foul play is suspected.

"We have recently asked the Chinese authorities to investigate the case further after suggestions that there were suspicious circumstances involved in his death," a Foreign Office spokesman in London said, according to the Guardian.

Initially, Neil Heywood's family and the British embassy accepted the police findings agreeing Heywood died of alcohol poisoning, but doubts have since been raised, with new twists emerging.

The Chinese authorities have accepted Britain's request for a fresh probe into Heywood's death.

China London