A long-anticipated leadership shake-up appears to be underway in China as the ruling Communist Party prepared to end a key congress on Thursday.

According to a number of delegates to the congress in Beijing, almost all China's current top leadership, including Party chief Jiang Zemin, look set to retire.

	Party Congress 2,114 delegates On Thursday, 350-member Central Committee "elected" On Friday, CC "elects" 22-member Politburo And its 7-member standing committee See also: Leadership changes

Delegates say Mr Jiang and most of his senior colleagues are not on the list of candidates for the Party's next central committee.

This effectively rules them out of membership for the more powerful Politburo, though they may remain influential behind the scenes.

Delegates say the only senior leader whose name is on the voting list is Vice-President Hu Jintao, expected to succeed Mr Jiang as Party chief.

Although the leadership shake-up has been expected for months, nothing was certain because of secrecy and in-fighting within the ruling Party.

The delegates' revelations also suggest that Li Ruihuan, seen as one of the most pro-reform of China's leaders, has been forced to retire early.

Mr Li, who has spent 13 years in a largely ceremonial role as head of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, had been considered a front-runner to become head of China's parliament.

But it now appears that his long-term rival Mr Jiang may have secured that post for one of his own supporters.

Mr Jiang's key prot�g�, Zeng Qinghong, is expected to occupy a senior place in the new leadership, and Mr Jiang may even retain his third post as head of an important military affairs commission.

Vote

The 2,114 delegates at the Congress will vote on the Central Committee - which in turn votes for the ruling Politburo - on Thursday, although in reality almost all the leadership changes have been thrashed out in advance.

But the new rulers of China will only be revealed when they walk out from behind a screen in the Great Hall of the People on Friday.

Among the matters the delegates are also discussing at the Congress is a proposal to change the party's constitution.

Mr Jiang has proposed that the Communist Party formally allow China's once-reviled entrepreneurs to join the party.

The Communist meeting is being held amid tight security and keen to avoid displays of dissent.

At least six people have been arrested after holding individual protests outside the hall.