The Slovenian Armed Forces have not confirmed the news yet. Their spokesman Simon Korez told the STA that they were yet to receive word from the evaluation team.

The military expects to learn the results of the test today, after which it will inform the public aboutit, he said.

Večer says that the battle group was evaluated as combat ready by the evaluation team which includes two NATO representatives.

The test, held at the Poček training grounds near Postojna, took place nearly five months after the battle group was evaluated as not ready for combat. In this time the group received additional soldiers.

The failure to pass the test cost Chief of the General Staff Andrej Osterman his job and brought to light problems of poor pay, understaffing and outdated equipment in the military.

Defence Minister Andreja Katič dismissed Osterman, saying he had known the battle group would fail the test, and appointed his deputy Alan Geder in his place.