SUPREME LEADER APPOINTS NEW MILITARY COMMANDER TEHRAN, MAY 21 (KUNA)-- IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES ON SUNDAY APPOINTED GENERAL MOHAMMAD SALIMI AS NEW MILITARY COMMANDER, THE STATE-RUN RADIO AND TELEVISION REPORTED.
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI IN A DECREE PROMOTED SALIMI TO THE RANK OF MAJOR GENERAL AND SAID THE APPOINTMENT WAS MADE IN RECOGNITION OF SALIMI'S "VALUABLE AND IMPRESSIVE RECORD IN THE MILITARY AND MINISTRY OF DEFENSE." SALIMI REPLACED MAJOR GENERAL ALI SHAHBAZI.
THE LEADER SAID HE HAD ACCEPTED SHAHBAZI'S RESIGNATION. THE BROADCAST DID NOT SAY WHY SHAHBAZI HAD RESIGNED.
KHAMENEI THANKED THE FORMER COMMANDER FOR "YEARS OF SELFLESS AND LOYAL SERVICES FOR THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC MILITARY." GENERAL SHAHBAZI WILL SERVE IN A DIFFERENT POST, THE LEADER SAID IN THE DECREE THE FULL TEXT OF WHICH WAS READ ON THE RADIO AND TV. (END) AS.OHD KUNA 211426 May 00NNNN