YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's junta leader Than Shwe has handed over control of the armed forces to one of his top deputies but will remain head of state, according to two sources close to the military.
The military's second in command, Maung Aye, also handed over his position to a regional commander, marking the first change in the top two military posts since 1988, the sources said.
Both men are keeping their posts as the top two leaders of the governing State Peace and Development Council, as the junta calls itself.
"The two top posts of the military have been handed over to Shwe Mann and Thura Myint Aung," said one source close to the military leadership.
"The two posts were handed to a new generation of military leaders," he added.
Shwe Mann is a favorite of Than Shwe and has long been seen as his likely successor. Thura Myint Aung is a relatively unknown commander of the southeast division.
The changes were made during the military's quarterly meeting last week, the sources said.
News of the shake-up in Myanmar came just days after the military in neighboring Thailand staged a coup to overthrow controversial prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
A source who has close business dealings with the military leadership said Than Shwe and Maung Aye could be leaving their military posts to prepare for further changes within the government.
The junta is set to resume its on-again, off-again constitutional talks next month, which could lead to creating a civilian government in which Than Shwe would presumably become president, according to the business source.
"This could be setting the stage for Senior General Than Shwe to get ready for the presidency if a draft constitution is put in place," he said.
However, the constitutional talks have dragged on for years with no tangible results.
The process has been widely condemned by the international community for failing to include the leading opposition National League for Democracy, headed by the detained Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
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