Vietnam confirms party supremo ousted

Delegates wait to pay respects to Ho Chi Minh

Top Vietnamese officials publicly confirmed for the first time on Thursday that the most powerful man in the country, the Communist Party's secretary-general, has been ousted from power.

Conservative Le Kha Phieu, 70, who has been at the helm for about three years, also confirmed that he was to go in an interview with Reuters news agency.

Mr Manh (right) is said to have been selected to replace Mr Phieu (left)

His departure comes after bitter infighting within the party, with Hanoi awash with rumours for months.

A formal announcement on his replacement is expected on Saturday, but the post is likely to go to the more moderate and younger Nong Duc Manh.

"I think it's in the wishes of all Vietnamese that we have a new and younger leader because the country is entering a new stage in its development," Culture Minister Nguyen Khoa Diem said.

The comments come as more than 1,000 of the party faithful attended the five-yearly congress of one the world's last ruling communist parties.

Ethnic roots

Mr Manh, 60, is currently speaker of parliament and a member of the country's ethnic Tay minority.

Corruption and degradation in political ideology, ethics and not a small segment of party officials and members have been very serious

Secretary-General Le Kha Phieu

Conservatives in the Politburo had backed him partly because it was hoped that would help ease tension among ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, scene of some of the worst protests for years in February.

Earlier, congress delegates listened to Mr Phieu's inaugural address, in which he said the time had come to prepare for a younger generation of leaders and spoke about corruption.

Ho Chi Minh's 'son'

The secretary-general also praised the country's economic achievements, indicating growth had doubled over the last 10 years and would continue to do the same.

But he expressed concern about the increasing gap between rich and poor.

Images of Marx and Lenin overlook the ninth congress

A change of leadership is not due to be voted on by the 1,168 delegates until Friday, but party sources say Mr Manh's selection was decided on Tuesday, despite opposition from conservative sectors which wanted to retain Mr Phieu.

Mr Manh, a forestry engineer, has a reputation as a consensus-seeker who is not corrupt.

He is also rumoured to be the illegitimate son of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, whose mausoleum was visited by the delegates at the start of the congress.

Analysts say the moderate Mr Manh's appointment is likely to be welcomed abroad, as he is seen as someone who will push for reform of the bureaucracy and legal system.