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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US General John Allen to retire, declining top Nato job | US General John Allen to retire, declining top Nato job |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US General John Allen has decided to retire instead of taking the job of Nato's supreme commander in Europe, President Barack Obama has said. | US General John Allen has decided to retire instead of taking the job of Nato's supreme commander in Europe, President Barack Obama has said. |
| In a statement, Mr Obama said he had accepted Gen Allen's request to retire from the military in order to "address health issues within his family". | In a statement, Mr Obama said he had accepted Gen Allen's request to retire from the military in order to "address health issues within his family". |
| Gen Allen is the outgoing commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan. | Gen Allen is the outgoing commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan. |
| Earlier this year, he was cleared of misconduct in a scandal that brought down CIA director Gen David Petraeus. | Earlier this year, he was cleared of misconduct in a scandal that brought down CIA director Gen David Petraeus. |
| 'True patriot' | 'True patriot' |
| President Obama said he had accepted Gen Allen's request after meeting him earlier on Tuesday. | President Obama said he had accepted Gen Allen's request after meeting him earlier on Tuesday. |
| "I told General Allen that he has my deep, personal appreciation for his extraordinary service over the last 19 months in Afghanistan, as well as his decades of service in the United States Marine Corps," the statement said. | "I told General Allen that he has my deep, personal appreciation for his extraordinary service over the last 19 months in Afghanistan, as well as his decades of service in the United States Marine Corps," the statement said. |
| It described the four-star general as "one of America's finest military leaders, a true patriot". | It described the four-star general as "one of America's finest military leaders, a true patriot". |
| Gen Allen's nomination to head Nato in Europe had earlier been put on hold amid reports that he had sent inappropriate emails to a Florida socialite, in the scandal that forced Gen Petraeus to resign. | Gen Allen's nomination to head Nato in Europe had earlier been put on hold amid reports that he had sent inappropriate emails to a Florida socialite, in the scandal that forced Gen Petraeus to resign. |
| But allegations of professional misconduct were dismissed and the Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said he had "complete confidence" in Gen Allen's leadership. | But allegations of professional misconduct were dismissed and the Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said he had "complete confidence" in Gen Allen's leadership. |
| During his tour of duty in Afghanistan, Gen Allen, 59, managed the transfer of security duties across much of the country to the Afghan army and police. | |
| His successor is expected to be the last commander of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and will oversee the withdrawal of most foreign troops from the country. |