SHANGHAI. China. Sept 8: A veteran democracy campaigner urged Chinese leaders Monday to adopt democratic reforms and prove their commitment to change by burning the body of Mao Tse-tung. reports AP.

Bao Ge's appeal to the Communist Party is the latest of several petitions demanding leaders take up political reform at a major congress that opens Friday

Bao s open letter, addressed to the party's Central Committee and General Secretary Jiang Zemin, warned they could only delay political reform at their peril. He cited recent protests by workers and peasants around the country against official corruption and unfair policies

"Your party must see that the peoples demands for democracy are growing stronger day by day To move ahead with the tide, your party now must fight actively, said the letter copies of which Bao distributed to reporters In Shanghai

"Bao recommended strengthening agencies for fighting corruption, improving the rule of law and protection of civil rights and permitting new political parties, including his planned Citizens Congress Party.

"Forbidding people from setting up political parlies shows a lack of confidence. Political parties ought to be able win the people s support to advance their policies and not rely on ironhanded controls, the letter said

To show they have left dicta torship behind party leaders at the upcoming congress should call for the cremation of Mao's body. Bao said.

Mao led the communists to power Deified bv the party in life, his body lies in a glass cof fin in a showy mausoleum on vast Tiananmen Square But his legacy remains troublesome to many Chinese Mao s ruinous economic policies and divisive politics is blamed for the deaths of at least 31 million people.