Daniel Cooney, Jakarta – Indonesia's president ordered a major shake-up of the military and bureaucracy Thursday, replacing an armed forces' spokesman who had challenged his authority and appointing a new head of military intelligence.

The bureaucratic shake-up in Jakarta included the firing of the chief spokesman for the armed forces, Maj. Gen. Sudradjat.

Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace, President Abdurrahman Wahid said Sudradjat had been replaced by air force Marshal Graito Husodo.

Sudradjat, a critic of Wahid, told the Republika newspaper last week the president did not have "the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the military" even though he is commander in chief under the constitution. Wahid did not say why he fired Sudradjat, but said only "we need to replace officers who are not suitable." Analysts view Sudradjat as a strong ally of Gen. Wiranto, the former military commander and Wahid's senior security minister.

There has been local media speculation recently of a rift between Wiranto and Wahid. "This is part of a very serious attempt by [Wahid] to consolidate his power," said Kusnanto Anggoro, a military analyst at Jakarta's Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Wiranto's influence in the military seems to be fading away." The president also named air force Marshal Ian Halim Perdanakusuma as the new head of the military's intelligence arm. He replaces former intelligence chief Gen. Tiasno Sudarto, who was named army chief of staff in November. It is the first time the intelligence job has not gone to an army man.

Since Wahid became president in October he has called for reform within the armed forces, which have played a traditionally powerful political role.

Wahid has matched the military reshuffle with big changes to senior management positions in Indonesia's bureaucracy and state-owned industries. In the past week, he has replaced the heads of the powerful Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency and the state-owned electricity company and said he will replace the leaders of the state oil company and the nation's stock market watchdog group.