Iran's Ahmadinejad sacks two ministers

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday sacked two of his ministers in a dispute over the appointment of the nation's first vice president state media reported. Mehr news agency reported that Information Minister and head of the intelligence service, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei and Culture Minister Mohammad-Hossein Safar Harandi, have been dismissed by the president.

Two further ministers, holding the health and labour portfolios, are reportedly to be dismissed as well, but there is no official confirmation yet.

There had been reports last month that Labour and Social Affairs Minister Mohammad Jahromi would himself quit the cabinet due to differences with the president over Ahmadinejad's decision to appoint Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei as first vice president.

Rahim-Mashaei has become a lightning rod for contention after making remarks that Iran's problems with Israel have nothing to do with the Israeli people or Jews in general. This is a controversial statement in Iran which seems to directly contradict statements made by Ahmadinejad himself.

Rahim-Mashaei, who is the father-in-law to Ahmadinejad's son, stepped down Saturday after Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, called on Friday for Ahmadinejad to fire him.

Under Iranian law, Rahim-Mashaei would have served as acting president until Ahmadinejad's inauguration next month.

According to Tehran press reports, Ahmadinejad and the two sacked ministers had a verbal quarrel in a cabinet session earlier this week over the disputed appointment.

The two ministers had reportedly called on the president to give in to the protests and revise the appointment but Ahmadinejad harshly rejected their demand. In protest, Mohseni-Ejei and Safar Harandi left the cabinet session.

Ahmadinejad is scheduled to be sworn in as president on August 5 and introduce his new government members until the end of next month.

The parliament has to approve all minister. Due to the quarrel between Ahmadinejad and the parliament over the acting president, observers expect heated discussions over the new cabinet members as well.