Afghanistan commander set to be new head of CIA

The US Afghanistan commander General David Petraeus is to be made the new head of the CIA, security sources have said.

US President Barack Obama plans to make current CIA director Leon Panetta the defence secretary, replacing Robert Gates, and Gen Petraeus would replace him in a major reshuffle of the country’s top national security leadership.

The changes are expected to take effect this summer. Gates has already said he will leave this year, and the White House wants to schedule Senate confirmation hearings in the coming months.