WASHINGTON, Nov. 5: Several key members of President Bush's cabinet are expected to leave or given new assignments when he reshuffles his team , senior Bush administration officials told reporters.

The reshuffling, however, will be gradual and there will be no sudden changes, the officials said. President Bush told a news conference in Washington on Thursday he will spend the weekend considering changes in his cabinet for the second term.

Those expected to be changed or reshuffled include Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Attorney General John D. Ashcroft. Some media reports have indicated that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld may also go, although he is lobbying to keep his job.

Tom Ridge, the secretary of homeland security, also has indicated that he may quit at the beginning of next year. The most intense speculation centres on Mr Powell, who had indicated earlier this year that he might not seek a second term for health reasons.

Mr Powell is believed to have exerted a moderating influence on America's foreign policies and his departure will suddenly help those who want Washington to play a more aggressive role in world affairs.

Mr Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, have long been expected to leave the administration when Mr Bush's first term ends. Mr Powell is highly popular among the career diplomats at the State Department but has often expressed frustration with his limited influence in making foreign policy decisions. Mr Armitage is considered Mr Powell's closest friend and is expected to leave with him.

The leading candidate to replace Mr Powell appears to be America's ambassador at the UN, John C. Danforth, a former senator and an ordained minister popular with the religious conservatives who helped provide Mr Bush's margin of victory.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who is frequently mentioned as a possible candidate, has told associates she is not interested in the job. Dark-horse candidates include centrist Democrats, such as former senator Sam Nunn, or someone with bipartisan appeal such as Republican Senator Richard G. Lugar.

Media reports have indicated that Ms Rice wants to head the Defence Department, but Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is lobbying to keep his job.

If Ms Rice moves to the Pentagon or leaves altogether, as some suggest, there will be a heated competition for her post. Her deputy, Stephen J. Hadley, could move up. But he would face tough competition from three important players: Paul D. Wolfowitz, deputy defense secretary and architect of the attack on Iraq; Robert Blackwill, former US ambassador to India who now handles Iraq policy at the National Security Council; and I. Lewis Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Cheney.

Mr Ridge, the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has indicated to friends that he may continue for the start of Mr Bush's second term but he would not stay for all four years.

There is no clear favourite to replace Mr Ridge but Marc Racicot, who helped run Mr Bush's re-election campaign, is a possible candidate.

Attorney General Ashcroft has told his friends he wants to leave for health and personal reasons, while media reports indicate that the White House would also like to replace him. He underwent surgery for pancreatitis earlier this year. He may leave before the start of a second Bush term but a senior Justice Department official said on Thursday Mr Ashcroft was reconsidering his decision.

Others expected to leave include Treasury Secretary John W. Snow and Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans. Some senior members of Mr Bush's team want to leave in a year or two so that they can get jobs in the private sector while Mr Bush is still in power. A change in the White House will diminish their ability to lobby for their firms in Washington and thus reduce their chances of getting the jobs they want.