Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appointed General Nelson Benitez as the new Joint Chief of Staff on Monday to replace General Manuel Rosendo, as part of a military leadership reshuffle.
Moreover, General Julio Garcia Montoya was appointed as the new army commander in replacement of General Efrain Vasquez Velasco, who was put in jail for his participation in the attempted coup d' Etat against Chavez and support for the transition government headed by Pedro Carmona.
President Chavez said at a press conference that he would announce other changes of military leadership in the next few days.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2002)
