Stockholm - The Swedish government Friday named Sverker Goranson as new supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.

Goransson, a lieutenant general, was to assume his post March 25. He succeeds Hakan Syren, who is to head the European Union Military Committee (EUMC), replacing French General Henri Bentegeat later this year.

The EU military committee advises the bloc's foreign and security chief Javier Solana.

Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors cited Goransson's leadership skills and experience of international assignments, and said his army background will serve him well since Goransson will be in charge of pushing through reforms of the Swedish defence forces.

Goransson, 54, has studied at the National Defence College as well as the US Army Command & General Staff College located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

He has served as military attache in the United States and was chief of the Nordic batallion that served with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia. (dpa)