Obama removes General McChrystal from Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has relieved his top Afghanistan commander, General Stanley McChrystal, of his command.

The General made disparaging remarks about the administration in a magazine article.

Early reports suggest that General David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command, will succeed McChrystal in Afghanistan.

The dismissal comes following an one-to-one meeting between the General McChrystal and the President at the White House.

The situation has posed a dilemma for Obama. If McChrystal had kept his job, the President may have been seen to tolerate insubordination from the military. But by firing him, Obama is shaking up the chain of command at a perilous moment in the unpopular 9-year-old war.

Aides have described Obama as furious over the Rolling Stone magazine article. US officials had expected the General to offer his resignation.

With his career on the line, the 55-year-old General apologized in a statement: "It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that he respects Obama's decision although he had been hoping for the General to hold his position.