ANKARA – The Turkish government appointed General Işık Koşaner as the chief of General Staff of NATO’s second-largest military and General Erdal Ceylanoğlu as commander of the land forces on Sunday, apparently defusing a row that was brewing between the government and military leadership.

General Hayri Kivrikoglu was appointed as the 1st Army Corps. Commander instead of outgoing 1st Army Corps Commander Gen. Hasan Igsiz, was called to testify in a probe into the Ergenekon group and was also charged with plotting to overthrow the government.

Both posts were left unfilled at the end of the annual Supreme Military Council on Aug. 4 after the government and the military clashed over who would lead ground forces.

Financial markets weakened last week due to concerns about Turkey’s political stability after the Supreme Military Council, chaired by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan but dominated by generals, failed to name the two top armed forces jobs after a four-day meeting that ended on Aug. 4.

The promotions process in the military was thrown into disarray by investigations into alleged plots by top-ranking officers to undermine the government.

Earlier on Sunday Erdogan had said agreement had been reached with the military on the positions.

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