General Stanley McChrystal was sacked as the top US commander in Afghanistan today for criticising President Obama in a magazine interview.

After an Oval Office showdown with Gen McChrystal Mr Obama met a bigger group of war advisers and then planned to announce his decision on the general's fate to the nation later.

Sources said Mr Obama had chosen Gen. David Petraeus, who now oversees in the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq as head of US Central Command, as Gen McChrystal's successor.

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