A deadlock between the Turkish government and military over who will fill the top two army leadership posts has been resolved, defusing a potential political crisis, Turkey's state- run Anatolian news agency reported Monday, reported dpa.
The appointments were announced after a meeting late Sunday between Turkey's president, the current military chief of staff and the defence minister.
The posts were supposed to have been filled during the military's annual promotions meeting, which ended last Wednesday.
The military had put forward the name of Gen. Isik Kosaner to replace the current chief of staff, Ilker Basbug, and Hasan Igsiz as the commander for land forces.
But Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to sign off on the military's plan because Igsiz is currently being investigated for being part of an alleged plot to discredit the government.
The government and the military agreed on a compromise candidate for the position on Sunday night, choosing Gen. Erdal Ceylanoglo. This allowed the military to appoint its original choice for the position of chief of staff.
Turkey's powerful military considers itself the ultimate guardian of the country's secularist system and has staged four coups in the past.
The government, led by the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, has been implementing measures that would reduce the military's influence.