ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Vice-Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani assumed the charge of his office on Monday.

He replaced General Ahsan Saleem Hayat who retired on attaining age of superannuation.

Gen Kayani will take over as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) when President General Pervez Musharraf takes off his military uniform.

At the General Headquarters, he was received by Chief of the General Staff Lt-Gen Salahuddin.

A smartly turned out contingent of the army presented a guard of honour. Later, Principal Staff Officers were introduced to the new VCOAS.Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee (JCSC) chairman General Tariq Majid, who has replaced General Ahsan-ul-Haq, also assumed the charge of his office on Monday.

On arrival at the Joint Staff Headquarters, he was received by Joint Staff director-general Lt-Gen Syed Athar Ali.A contingent of the three-services presented a guard of honour to the new JCSC.

Principal Staff Officers of the Joint Staff Headquarters were introduced to the new chairman.