  We present the results of soft X-ray observations of the intermediate-age
open cluster IC 4651 performed with the ROSAT PSPC. We detected 25 sources. Two
are identified with a giant binary and a blue straggler respectively, both
belonging to the cluster, and two with probable main-sequence members. Two
other cases have ambiguous identification. Of the five binaries known in the
cluster, the one detected in X rays is the only one whose period is short
enough to maintain fast rotation and therefore strong stellar activity at a
high age. The detected blue straggler is probably binary, suggesting that
binarity is the key to producing a high level of X-ray emission. It is the
third blue straggler detected in X rays. The remaining sources need to be
identified through optical follow-up.
