AFM Commander 'not pressured to leave' - Mallia

National Security Minister Manuel Mallia has denied putting pressure on the commander of the AFM to resign his post. Speaking to journalists this morning on the fringes of the opening of a course about prison education, rehabilitation and resettlement, Dr Mallia said the commander was never asked to resign. "As if," he answered when asked whether pressure was being put on Brigadier Martin Xuereb to resign his post, as claimed by the Leader of the Opposition over the weekend. "The brigadier can speak for himself... He is still in the AFM and there is no pressure for his resignation. He has his choices to make and he can decide on them in the future," Dr Mallia said. Dr Mallia laughed off an accusation made by the Opposition that the Labour Party had taken over the army after four majors were promoted to lieutenant colonels, the third highest rank. The Opposition has claimed the four majors were Labour sympathizers and "Government lackeys". Dr Mallia defended the promotions, saying the individuals were evaluated on the basis of guidelines issued by the defence board. Asked about the presence of two members of his secretariat on the selection committee that adjudicated the...