Jakarta – Outgoing Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Marshall Djoko Suyanto has confirmed that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will install Army chief Gen. Djoko Santoso as his replacement before the end of this year.

"The President has agreed to install (Santoso) before Jan. 1, 2008, the day I will retire. The handover ceremony will be held in early January," Suyanto told detik.com at the State Palace on Thursday. "The new Army chief should be installed prior to (Santoso's) installment as TNI chief," he added.

The Army chief has named six candidates for his replacement: deputy Army chief of staff Lt. Gen. C. Simbolon, TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Erwin Sudjono, commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. George Toisutta, secretary general of the Defense Ministry Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, secretary to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Lt. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo and chief of the Army's Education and Training Command Lt. Gen. Bambang Darmono.