Morsi appoints new military chiefs
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi appointed three new commanders Tuesday, just days after he shook up the country's powerful military leadership.
He tapped leaders to head the navy, the air force and the air defense force, Morsi spokesman Yasser Ali announced on state TV.
The president sent the previous leaders into "retirement" on Sunday, alongside Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi and Lt Gen Sami Anan, once the country's top military rulers.
Morsi appointed Staff Maj Gen Abdel-Monen Bayoumi al-Terras as head of the air defense force, Staff Vice-Marshal Younes Elsayed Hamed as commander of the air force, and Staff Rear Adm Osama Ahmed el-Gendy as head of the navy, Ali said.
The fact the announcement came from Morsi directly, and not his defense minister, suggested the president is determined to take control of the military, which has been a mainstay of Egyptian politics for the past 60 years.
Morsi assumed office June 30 and has moved quickly to assert his authority.
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