Turkmani succeeds Tlass as a minister of defense

One of the most remarkable members of the Syrian state lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass retired from his post as a defense minister and was replaced by the army chief of staff lt. gen. Hassan Turkmani, whose post will be occupied by Lt. Gen. Ali Habib.

The Syrian prime minister Muhammad Naji Otari stressed yesterday that Tlass who occupied his post as a defense minister for 30 years announced yesterday his retirement in his 72nd birthday to leave his military post for the chief of staff of the armed forces lt. Hassan Turkmani who was replaced by his deputy lt. Gen. Ali Habib. During the 1970s Habib served as a leader for the special units in Lebanon.

Otari said replying to a question " yes, and after a long time of giving, the Lt. gen. ( Tlass) retired and was replaced by lt. gen. Turkmani." He added that the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will honor today ( Wednesday ) Tlass in a celebration to be attended today by senior state and party officials.

Sources close to Tlass family said that he will retire from the military life and leave the government works but will keep, simultaneously his post in the regional leadership of the Baath party.