The Turkish government on Sunday appointed General Erdal Ceylanoglu as commander of the land forces, CNN Turk reported, defusing a row that was brewing between the government and the military leadership.
Ceylanoglu's appointment paves the way for the current head of the army, General Isik Kosaner, to become the top commander of Nato's second-largest military, the broadcaster said, without saying how it obtained the information.
Both posts were left unfilled at the end of the annual Supreme Military Council on August 4 after the government, which traces its roots to an Islamist movement, and secularist military clashed over who would lead ground forces, raising fears about political stability. The outgoing Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug and Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul are due to meet President Abdullah Gul, who must approve the appointments, later on Sunday, CNN Turk said. Ceylanoglu, 65, had been appointed to the prestigious post of First Army Corps Command at last week's council.
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