July 15, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424

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KABUL, July 14: Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai appointed on Monday top commanders for the new national army, presidential spokesman Jawid Luddin said.

The president has appointed a central corps commander, deputy commander, chief of staff and brigade commanders for the newly trained army, the spokesman told reporters.

“In the presidential decree General Mohammed Moeen has been appointed as the commander of central corps of the army,” Mr Luddin said.

The creation of the multi-ethnic Afghan National Army (ANA), which is being trained by American, British and French instructors in Kabul, is considered a key element for security and stability of Afghanistan.

So far it has only a few thousand trained soldiers, but the aim is to create a 70,000-strong fighting force to maintain security nationwide.

About 10,000 pro-government forces are due to be inducted into the army.—AFP