(Xinhua) -- The Nicaraguan Army (EN) on Monday approved Mayor General Julio Aviles as its new army chief at the request of Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega.

Aviles will assume his new position on Feb. 21, 2010. Before that, he will appoint a new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Nicaragua, who should be presented to Ortega so that Aviles can take office, said Adolfo Zepeda, spokesman of the EN.

Aviles was appointed by Ortega last Saturday at an event of the governing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).

Zepeda indicated that he did not want to speak about what would be the tasks of the new EN chief, because those tasks were for the current military chief, General Omar Halleslevens, who would leave his post on Feb. 21 of next year.

The charge will be handed over to Aviles in the beginning of December.

Aviles holds a degree in business administration. He has been a diplomat of defense in France as well as the Chief of Staff of Soldiers in Cuba. He also has been the EN's Chief of Military Intelligence and Couter-Intelligence.

Aviles was born on Aug. 11, 1965, in Jinotepe Department, south of Managua.