Former SAS leader new head of army

A former SAS commander who led the hunt for Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 terror attacks has been appointed the new head of the Army.

Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-smith will take over as Chief of the General Staff when General Sir Nick Carter moves to become Chief of the Defence Staff in June.

Gen Carleton-smith has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. In 2002 he was appointed commanding Officer of 22 Special Air Service Regiment serving mainly in iraq and afghanistan.