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WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, plans to retire early next year, the U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday.

The retirement of Abizaid, an architect of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since becoming head of the Central Command in July 2003, could help clear the way for strategy changes under consideration by President George W. Bush.

This spring, Donald Rumsfeld, who was replaced this week as defense secretary by Robert Gates, had asked Abizaid to remain as commander of the U.S. Central Command until early in 2007, the command said in a statement.

"He does not intend to extend beyond that point," said Air Force Capt. Gary Arasin, a command spokesman.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the first to report the retirement plans, Abizaid will leave his post in March, a date that Arasin could not immediately confirm.

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