CAIRO: Egypt's military leader has sacked the general responsible for media affairs to bolster an image tarnished by killings of protesters and accusations that the men in uniform are undermining Egypt's democratic revolution. The change is the first in the military council since the generals took power from President Hosni Mubarak during a popular uprising last February.Maj. Gen. Ismail Etman, 60, was "exempted from service and replaced by Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abu El-Dahab, the director of the artillery division," a Defense Ministry source said. The decision was announced later by state media.
A source close to the military council said it was concerned about its deteriorating public image.
"The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces concluded that the army's image in the media has suffered over the past year under Etman's leadership," said the source.
"The decision is intended to bring in new leadership to improve the armed forces' performance," and was decreed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who heads the council, the source added.
Etman led the army department which handled a wide range of issues ranging from media relations to dealing with the concerns of military officers. Little is known about Etman's successor, Abu El-Dahab, and it remains to be seen whether the change will alter the army's public affairs policy.