He had insured through the selection process for congress delegates that his opponents would be underrepresented, several delegates said.

The faction calling for more sweeping moves toward democracy and free markets was a tiny minority of the congress delegates from the outset.

The 367 congress delegates represented over 60,000 party members.

Afrikaner delegates said they were deeply impressed with the quality of the debate and the congress delegates who took part.

Instead the provincial organizations were ordered to elect their congress delegates directly.

It was one of the few points of the party chief's speech that was applauded by the 2,752 congress delegates.

The 200 congress delegates elects a party chairman, two deputy party chairmen, and members of the party board.

The plenum agreed a date for the 11th party congress, on 27 January, and called for elections for congress delegates under new democratic rules.

But several congress delegates expressed support today for keeping the 61-year-old Mr. Ochirbat.

The most sensitive issue facing congress delegates is the future of the party after next year's elections.