Turkey appoints Necdet Ozel chief of staff

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has approved the appointment of the country's four top military leaders, after the resignation of their predecessors last week. As expected, army chief Gen Necdet Ozel is promoted to chief of general staff. This is the first time a civilian government has been able to decide who commands the powerful armed forces. The four generals resigned over the arrest of officers accused of plotting to undermine the government. Gen Kosaner and the chiefs of the army, navy and air force quit just hours after a court charged 22 suspects, including several generals and officers. Gen Ozel had been widely tipped to be swiftly elevated to chief of the general staff in place of Gen Kosaner, after his appointment as army chief last week. Tradition dictates that only the head of the army can take over the top job. Gen Hayri Kivrikoglu is the new land forces commander, Adm Emin Murat Bilgel takes over as naval commander and Gen Mehmet Erten becomes air force commander, media reports say.