Top US Mideast commander to retire early in 2007

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) US Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of US forces in West Asia plans to retire early next year, the US Central Command today said.

The retirement of Abizaid -- an architect of the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since becoming head of the Central Command in July 2003 -- could help clear the way for strategy changes under consideration by President George W Bush.

This spring, Donald Rumsfeld, replaced this week as defense secretary by Robert Gates, had asked Abizaid to remain as commander of the US Central Command until early in 2007, the command said in a statement.

''He does not intend to extend beyond that point,'' said Air Force Capt Gary Arasin, a command spokesman.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the first to report the retirement plans, Abizaid will leave his post in March a date that Arasin could not immediately confirm.

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