"An epic battle for control of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has broken out as the power struggle in China enters a new phase," The Sunday Times reported, as Hu visited Hong Kong to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the handover of the territory from British rule.
"At its centre (of the epic battle) is President Hu," the paper quoted its Chinese sources as saying in Hong Kong who have been briefed on Communist party affairs.
Hu, 69, is attempting to stay in charge of the military as Chairman of the Central Military Commission after he steps down later this year as President and as head of the Communist party, the report said.
The CPC, which has maintained its hold on political power since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, is expected to undergo major leadership changes with Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao retiring at the 18th Party Congress later this year.
Talk of Hu's bid to stay in change of PLA came as party insiders leaked the most detailed account yet of the internal strife that led to shots being fired in Beijing in a confrontation between troops and paramilitary police on the night of March 19, the paper said.
Rumours swept the capital of an attempted coup but were officially denied, it said.
"The incident left Hu so disturbed that he is lobbying against fierce resistance to retain his position as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, which has supreme command of the armed forces, for at least another two years," it said.
The dramatic sequence of events