Hu remains an enigma as he hands over power to Xi

Hu Jintao maintained his poker face and remained an enigma to many on the last day in power yesterday as he handed over his last two top posts - state president and head of the state's Central Military Commission - to Xi Jinping.

When Hu appeared on the presidium in the Great Hall of the People yesterday, 21 National People's Congress deputies from the third row stood up and shook hands with him, one by one.

More than half were People's Liberation Army top brass, including chief of general staff General Fang Fenghui , seen as one of Hu's protégés. They saluted Hu before reaching out their hands.

Hu, wearing a dark-purple tie, was largely expressionless and did not speak to Xi, on his left, during the hour-long announcement of the "newly elected" leadership, including the state president, his deputy and the chairman of the NPC.

Unlike his predecessor, Jiang Zemin , who managed to secure top posts for many of his allies upon his retirement, Hu appeared to have built up much less political capital for himself as he withdrew from the political scene yesterday.

Many analysts said they believed his political influence would dwindle quickly.