General David Petraeus, the top US military commander in Afghanistan, has been named the "mostfascinatingpersonof 2010", beating the cast of MTV reality show "The Jersey Shore" and teen singer Justin Bieber.

Veteran journalist Barbara Walters called Petraeus a "true American hero" and placed him top of her annual list of the 10 most fascinating people of 2010 in a TV broadcast on Thursday.

Network ABC said on Friday that 12.2 million Americans watched the show.

Petraeus, 58, was named in June to head US and Nato forces in Afghanistan after serving as head of the US Central Command overseeing Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

He is also credited with having pulled Iraq back horn the brink of an all-out sectarian war in 2007.

"In life, it seems, there are people who break things and people who fix them. This man is a fixer, "Walters said. "A lot depends on General Petraeus and his combination of humanity and strength."

Others on Walter's annual list included 16 year-old Canadian singer Justin Bieber, future British princess Kate Middleton who is engaged to marry Prince William, veteran comedy actress Betty White and conservative politician Sarah Palin.

Walters has chosen her most fascinating people for 18 years. Last year's winner was US first lady Michelle Obama, and in 2008 Walters put then president-elect Barack Obama top ofherlist.