BEIJING - Chinese state media denied rumors on Thursday that former president Jiang Zemin had died after a Hong Kong television station said he had, sparking a wave of speculation about a leadership transition due next year.Jiang, 84, is in poor health. Three sources with ties to China's leadership told Reuters that he is in intensive care in Beijing at the No. 301 military hospital after suffering a heart attack.Hong Kong's Asia Television interrupted its main newscast onWednesday evening to announce solemnly that Jiang had died, andfollowed with a brief profile. It kept up the news for severalhours on a ticker and then said it would air a special report onJiang's life late in the evening.
It later canceled the report, and withdrew the ticker afterfailing to get official confirmation.
