The appointment of Kahwaji was announced by Information Minister Tarek Mitri after Friday's cabinet meeting: "The Council of Ministers decided to appoint General Jean Kahwaji to the post of chief of the Lebanese army."

President Michel Suleiman had been the commander of the Lebanese army until he was elected president on May 25, and the post has been vacant since then as differences between various Lebanese factions delayed the appointment.

Kahwaji, 54, joined the army in 1973 . He has headed the army's 12th Infantry Brigade since 2002. He has undergone specialized military training in the United States and Italy and in 2006 he went to Germany for intensive anti-terrorism training.

Kahwaji is married with three children.

General Shawki al-Masri, the army's chief of staff, had been acting as head of the army since Suleiman was elected president of Lebanon on May 25. Even though Masri was highly regarded and respected he could not be appointed as the army chief because he is of the Druze faith . According to the Lebanese constitution the army chief should be a Christian Maronite .

In December Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj, who was considered the leading candidate to succeed Michel Suleiman was killed in a massive bomb attack . Hajj, 55, also led a major military campaign against Fatah al Islam, Islamic militants last summer.

According to Al Hayat newspaper , Ministers Wael Abou Faour and Ghazi Aridi questioned Defense Minister about the qualifications of Kahwaji for the post and the method used in selecting him to lead the army. Murr said Gen. Jean Kahwaji met the criteria to be next army commander both as a military commander and as a leader.

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