U.S. President Barack Obama has fired his top general in Afghanistan, following a controversial magazine interview that saw Gen. Stanley McChrystal criticize his colleagues and senior White House staff.

At an afternoon press conference, Obama said it was with "considerable regret" that he chose to relieve McChrystal of his duties.

"I don't make this decision based on any difference in policy with Gen. McChrystal because we are in full agreement about our strategy," Obama said in Washington.

"Nor do I make this decision out of any sense of personal insult. Stan McChrystal has always shown great courtesy and carried out my orders faithfully. I've got great admiration for him, for his long record of service in uniform."

Obama said McChrystal "has earned a reputation as one of our nation's finest soldiers."

But the U.S. president also said that the remarks McChrystal made to Rolling Stone "does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general."

"It undermines civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that is necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan,' he added.

McChrystal had been summoned to Washington after the remarks he made to the magazine were made public.

Prior to the general's firing, Obama had made it clear that the 55-year-old McChrystal had shown "poor judgment" and that he might be removed from his position. The Associated Press reported that McChrystal had brought his resignation with him in the event he was fired.

Obama has nominated U.S. Gen. David Petraeus to take McChrystal's place as head of the ISAF force in Afghanistan.

Afghan officials had urged Obama not to turf McChrystal, citing his experience in Afghanistan and the progress made under his watch.

"The president believes that we are in a very sensitive juncture in the partnership, in the war on terror and in the process of bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, and any gap in this process will not be helpful," Waheed Omar, a spokesperson for Afghan

President Hamid Karzai, told reporters Wednesday.

"We hope there is not a change of leadership of the international forces here in Afghanistan and that we continue to partner with Gen. McChrystal."

With files from The Associated Press