(Image source: Los Angeles Times )

BY NATHAN BYRNE

ANCHOR NEVILLE MILLER

When Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi won his country’s first free presidential election in June, speculation started over whether who was in control — Mr. Morsi or the military. As euronews reports, the president made his move on Sunday to put that discussion to rest .

“Egypt’s President replaced the country’s head of the armed forces and defense minister, Hussein Tantawi, with immediate effect. Mohamed Morsi, from the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood also ordered chief of staff Sami Enan to retire.”

The CBC says Mr. Tantawi was head of the military council that ruled Egypt for more than a year following the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

“His council took control over the writing of Egypt’s constitution and passed laws that curtailed the power of the civilian government.”

According to the Washington Post, Mr. Morsi also suspended a constitutional decree passed by generals on the eve of his election that gave the military more authority while reducing the president’s powers . He also ordered the heads of the Air Force, Air Defense and Navy to retire. The Post says it’s not clear whether Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces agreed to the moves.

One Al Jazeera correspondent reports no one saw this coming , because it initially seemed like Mr. Morsi …

“ … had no intention to defy Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and the entire military establishment, but definitely a very not-so-tacit move here.”

And a political science professor at the American University in Cairo tells CNN International Mr. Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood must have given this plan careful consideration — because neither is known to be historically confrontational.

“ … they wouldn’t be taking such drastic steps unless they are absolutely sure that they can live up to the consequences.”

According to Daily News Egypt, both Tantawi and Enan have now been appointed as presidential advisors . Their replacements were also members of the military’s supreme council.