Faced with a growing gangland scandal, Vietnam's Communist Party Leader warned the newly installed national assembly on Friday that corruption threatens the existence of the communist state.

"The fight against corruption, waste and bureaucracy may determine whether our system collapses or continues to exist," Party Secretary-General Nong Duc Manh told the parliament's opening session.

Speaking in the shadow of a meter-high gold bust of Revolutionary Hero Ho Chi Minh, he told the 498-member national assembly that the government would root out corruption at every level and without regard to position, ADP reported. "As the great Ho Chi Minh once affirmed, our country is a democratic one," he said. "We should have rule of law and all the benefits must go to the people."

Vietnam's communist government has been vowing to stamp out corruption for years, but with little apparent success as scandals continue unabated.

The government has most recently been rocked by accusations that two members of the powerful 150-member communist party central committee gave protection to one of the country's reputed top crime lords.

At least 120 other government officials, including police, judges and prosecutors, have been arrested on suspicion of being affiliated with the notorious Nam Cam, who was arrested on charges of murder and racketeering last year and faces trial next month in Ho Chi Minh city.

The new national assembly, elected in single-party elections May 19, will meet next week to confirm a new cabinet line-up, which the central committee nominated behind closed doors last week.

The top three positions of president, prime minister and national assembly chairman are expected to remain in place, according to party insiders and analysts. However, lawmakers refused Friday to confirm the make-up of the central committee's list.

Nguyen Van An, the Assembly's Current Chief, would not comment on whether he will keep his post as expected. "Please allow me not to mention the names out of principle," an told reporters after the ceremony. "This time, we will carry out the election in a democratic way."

He said that the parliament would debate the list "in an open and democratic procedure", then consult with the central committee before making a final decision.

"The national assembly and the party are one. W' do not have two parties," An said.

The parliament is scheduled to vote Tuesday on its new chairman.

On Wednesday, deputies are expected to vote on whether president Tran Duc Luong will stay on as expected, and on Thursday should repeat the process for Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

The session, held twice yearly, is expected to last until mid-August.

The national assembly has a backlog of key economic reform measures related to implementation of a landmark trade agreement with the united states, but it appears unlikely they will make it onto this session's agenda.