Fired chief of staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic has officially handed over to his appointed successor, defusing a threat to defy the Yugoslav president who dismissed him, according to Belgrade's Radio B-92.
The radio and Belgrade dailies said today President Vojislav Kostunica had won the clear backing of top service chiefs for his decision to fire General Pavkovic, a former ally of Mr Slobodan Milosevic closely associated with the 1999 Kosovo war.
The president met top commanders yesterday to explain his reasons for firing General Pavkovic. Reacting to the dismissal, the General branded the decision illegal and vowed to contest it in parliament.
But the dispute now appears to have fizzled out.
The General was also reported to have submitted a complaint to the constitutional court over the manner of his removal.
Political sources said there was still a possibility that the defense committee of parliament would hold a hearing on the president's decision to fire General Pavkovic by decree, after the Supreme Defense Council refused to consent.
Mr Kostunica's action was criticised by other members of the reformist bloc which ousted Mr Milosevic as president in 2000, who accused him of playing the autocrat.
But Western nations were happy to see the back of General Pavkovic. In Brussels, a NATO official said his dismissal would help the alliance build a new relationship with its former foe.
In Washington, the State Department said that since Mr Kostunica was head of state it did not expect anything other than that General Pavkovic (56) would comply with his decision.
Mr Kostunica has named General Branko Krga (57) as the country's new chief of staff. General Krga previously served as General Pavkovic's deputy.