WASHINGTON, Aug 1: Gen Pete Schoomaker was sworn in on Friday as chief of staff of the US Army, returning from retirement to lead a service strained by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and at odds with its civilian leader.

Gen Schoomaker, who served as commander of the US Special Operations Command until his retirement in 2000, succeeds Gen Eric Shinseki, who clashed with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over the size of the US occupation force in Iraq.—AFP