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.