Lima - Peruvian Police colonel Oswaldo Alfaro, who was to be in charge of security at the 16th summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, was removed from the job a week before the gathering that is set to be held in Lima, Peruvian media reported Friday.

New Interior Minister Remigio Hernani was said to have removed Alfaro along with all other officials with ties to former head of police Octavio Salazar, a personal rival whom he has already dismissed.

Hernani confirmed to the daily Peru 21 that he had removed Alfaro, an officer with great expertise in antiterrorist operations.

"Police work with men, not with names. The change has been made to improve the institution's job," the minister was quoted in the daily Peru 21 as saying.

It remained unclear who had been designated to lead security operations related to the APEC leaders' meeting, scheduled to take place November 21-23 in Lima. US President George W Bush, Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, among others, are set to travel to the Peruvian capital.

Alfaro is now set to tackle operations related to tourism.

Hernani, a retired police general, has a long personal feud with Salazar. (dpa)