The replacement for General Franciszek Gagor, chief of General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces who died in the Smolensk air disaster, is to be nominated tomorrow.

"The decision has already been reached though all the relevant documents need to be prepared before its announcement. It is my decision and was consulted with the head of national defence and the prime minister,” said acting president Bronisław Komorowski.

Much of Poland’s top military brass was killed in the plane crash in western Russia on April 10 which killed President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and 94 others.

Komorowski refused to comment on whether General Mieczysław Cieniuch was the man to replace Franciszek Gagor.

Komorowski has also announced he would be appointing a new head of the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command, commander of the Polish Air Force and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Special Forces. (ab)