Petraeus nominated for Central Command job

WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- The White House announced Wednesday that U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, has been nominated to lead U.S. Central Command.

U.S. Army Gen. Raymond Odierno was nominated to move into Petraeus' post in Iraq, the U.S. Defense Department said in a statement.

The Senate will have to approve of the Petraeus move, which would place him in overall command of U.S. operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He would replace U.S. Navy Adm. William Fallon, who stepped down in March amid high-profile differences with the Bush administration over the war.

The announcement also said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli had been nominated for promotion to full general and would take over for Odierno as the Army's vice chief of staff.