Political commissar of Lanzhou military region, Lieutenant General Liu Yongzhi, 60, has been shifted to deputy director of the general political department, according to the Beijing-backed Wen Wei Po daily newspaper.

Liu replaces Zhang Shuitian, who retired, the paper said.

Chang Wanquan, 55, chief-of-staff of the Beijing military region, has been promoted to commander of Shenyang military region, the paper reported.

The newspaper said more reshuffles in senior military posts could be expected.

Analysts see the moves as another step in Hu's consolidation of power. In September he replaced the retired Jiang Zemin as head of China's military, considered the country's most powerful post.

Hu became president and Chinese communist party general secretary more than a year ago.