Armenian PM sacks national security chief

YEREVAN (Reuters) - Armenia's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Monday that he had sacked National Security Service chief Artur Vanetsyan, the first dismissal of a high-ranking official in his cabinet.

Pashinyan told a news conference the decision was based on "bilateral consent".

Pashinyan came to power in a peaceful revolution last year after protests against corruption and cronyism.

Vanetsyan, who became the National Security Service head after last year's revolution, sent Pashinyan a letter, also published in local media, in which he criticised the prime minister's working methods.

Vanetsyan remains head of the Armenian Football Federation.

(Reporting by Nvard Hovhannisyan; Writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Giles Elgood)