Nepal removes army chief over 'disobedience'
The removal of the country's army chief has raised concerns of a power struggle between the military and the government
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Sunday, 03, May 2009 12:11
Nepal's government has dismissed an army general for disobeying orders on military appointments.
The south Asian country is going through a period of transition after the ending of its monarchy and the election of Maoist rebels to a parliamentary government.
The move has raised fears of further uncertainty in the country after the end of a civil war between the former Maoist rebels and the country's military three years ago.
General Rookmangud Katawal was dismissed at a special cabinet meeting for disobeying orders on new recruits into the army.
Information minister Krishna Mahara said: "The cabinet meeting today decided to sack army chief Rookmangud Katawal from his post with immediate effect as his clarification for defying the government orders was not satisfactory."
Previously, Nepal's prime minister and former rebel leader Prachanda asked Mr Katawal why orders to dismiss eight army generals, to include former rebels into the military and to freeze the inclusion of new recruits into the armed forces had not been followed.
The army has previously refused to include some 9,000 former Maoist rebels into the military.
The AFP news agency reports that deputy army general Kul Bahadur Khadka has been appointed as the country's new army chief on a temporary basis.