Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's president, has dismissed the head of the armed forces and defence minister, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, according to the country's state news agency.
President Mohammed Morsi also appointed a senior judge, Mahmoud Mekki, as vice president.
Yasser Ali, the presidential spokesperson, said in a news conference aired on state TV on Sunday, that Morsi appointed a new defence minister, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Tantawi headed the military council that ruled Egypt for 17 months after Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February 2011.
Yasser Ali, the presidential spokesperson, said in a news conference aired on state TV on Sunday, that Morsi appointed a new defence minister, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Tantawi headed the military council that ruled Egypt for 17 months after Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February 2011.
The decisions announced will go into effect immediately.
Al Jazeera's correspondent, Sherine Tadros, reporting from Cairo, said the president's spokesperson made the surprising announcement on state television.
"The other shock announcement was 'the retiring' of Sami Enan, the chief of staff.
"There will be a lot of questions asked, especially if Morsi is able to do this," our correspondent said.
"The other shock announcement was 'the retiring' of Sami Enan, the chief of staff.
"There will be a lot of questions asked, especially if Morsi is able to do this," our correspondent said.
"In the coming hours, we will find out how this decision came about. All of this has happened very fast, and it was unexpected."
Tantawi was defence minister for nearly two decades under Mubarak.
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