Official: PM Abadi removes Iraqi Army chief of staff
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday ordered the retirement of the Kurdish Chief-of-Staff of the Iraqi Army, the prime minister's spokesman announced.
"General Babaker Zebari was removed from his post on the orders of Iraqi premier's order," a statement released by Abadi’s office announced.
Zebari rejected the claim in an interview with Rudaw TV on Monday, saying he had applied for resignation in October 2014.
Following the US-led invasion of the country, Zebari was appointed to the post in 2003. Iraqi and Kurdish officials agreed the position should be held by a Kurd in a bid to include all ethnic and religious groups in the Iraqi Army.
According to Zebari, President Masoud Barzani has already suggested the next Kurdish candidate to Abadi.
“General Anwar Hama Amin has been selected by Barzani and the name is already given to Abadi,” Zebari told Rudaw.
Since taking office on August, Abadi has attempted to reform the Iraqi Army by reshuffling its top generals.
"General Babaker Zebari was removed from his post on the orders of Iraqi premier's order," a statement released by Abadi’s office announced.
Zebari rejected the claim in an interview with Rudaw TV on Monday, saying he had applied for resignation in October 2014.
Following the US-led invasion of the country, Zebari was appointed to the post in 2003. Iraqi and Kurdish officials agreed the position should be held by a Kurd in a bid to include all ethnic and religious groups in the Iraqi Army.
According to Zebari, President Masoud Barzani has already suggested the next Kurdish candidate to Abadi.
“General Anwar Hama Amin has been selected by Barzani and the name is already given to Abadi,” Zebari told Rudaw.
Since taking office on August, Abadi has attempted to reform the Iraqi Army by reshuffling its top generals.