Basbug becomes new chief of Turkey's General Staff

04/08/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- The country's General Staff announced on Monday (August 4th) the appointment of General Ilker Basbug as its new chief, media reported. The names of the new top commanders of the Turkish armed forces surfaced during a weekend meeting of the Supreme Military Council. President Abdullah Gul approved them on Monday. Basbug, the current land forces commander, will replace the chief of the General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, who is expected to retire on August 30th. Gendarmerie Commander General Isik Kosaner will replace Basbug, and General Atila Isik will head the gendarmerie. (Hurriyet, Sabah, Zaman, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Radikal - 04/08/08, CNN Turk, Turkish Press - 03/08/08)