News In Brief

New Argentine Army chief appointed by Alfonsin

President Raul Alfonsin named a new Army chief of staff Thursday. The action followed the first high-level military shake-up since Mr. Alfonsin took office in December, ending nearly eight years of military rule.

Gen. Ricardo Gustavo Pianta replaced Gen. Jorge Ar-guindegui, who resigned last week along with Gen. Pedro Pablo Mansilla, commander of the Third Army Corps in Cordoba.

General Mansilla was an outspoken opponent of the government. Press reports said he had interfered with investigations of human rights abuses by the military regime, and had refused requests from both General Arguindegui and the Defense Ministry to step down voluntarily.