Head of Chancellory likely next Defense Minister

According to the government's spokesperson, Jan Dziedziczak, this took place following a conversation with the Prime Minister concerning the evaluation of his ministry's work. However, people closely cooperating with the former Minister declared that the resignation was the result of a strong conflict with the head of intelligence, Deputy Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz. Sikorski was against his deputy's nomination from day one and subsequently asked the PM several times to dismiss Macierewicz. Sikorski also revealed that he had submitted a similar request to remove his deputy several days ago. "The main reason for this request was my doubts about proper intelligence backing for the military mission in Afghanistan," said Sikorski. According to Dziedziczak, Aleksander Szczyglo, the head of the President's Chancellory, is likely to receive an official nomination to the now vacant post on Wednesday. The opposition claims it should have been Macierewicz and not Sikorski to leave the government. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1; Gazeta.pl) A.K.