Turkish Pres. unveils plans to restructure military

ANKARA, July 30 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has disclosed plans to restructure his country's armed forces after the July 15th failed coup.
The changes included making the army, navy and air force directly answerable to the Defense Ministry, Erdogan said in a live ATV interview.
He suggested making the General Staff and the National Intelligence Agency directly answerable to the presidency but said this would be discussed with opposition leaders.
In further changes, military schools will be shut down and replaced with a university of national defense that would include army, air force and naval academies. A gendarmerie academy will also be established.
Responsibility for military hospitals would be transferred to the Health Ministry, Erdogan said. (end) rs.ibi