Putin replaces army chief of staff in defence shake-up

MOSCOW (AFP) - President Vladimir Putin on Friday replaced Russia's army chief of staff with a veteran commander from the second Chechnya war, in a shake-up of the military after the sacking of the defence minister.

Army chief of staff Nikolai Makarov is to be replaced by General Valery Gerasimov, a commander at the North Caucasus military district in the second Chechnya war, Mr Putin announced days after the sacking of defence minister Anatoly Serdyukov in a graft scandal.

"You are an experienced person," Mr Putin told Mr Gerasimov in a meeting at the Kremlin that also included the new Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"I believe the minister has picked the right candidate and I hope that you will work to the best of your abilities and efficiently."