Promoted by Steven D.
TEHRAN (AFP) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked four ministers just days before he is due to announce his new cabinet line-up, several local news agencies reported.
Those sacked are Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Mohammad Jahromi, Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani and Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie, the agencies said.
Ejeie was sacked “following a verbal quarrel between the intelligence minister and the president in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting over the appointment of (Esfandiar Rahim) Mashaie,” the Mehr news agency quoted an informed unnamed source as saying.
The Mehr agency also reported the sacking of the other three ministers.
Rahim Mashaie stepped down as first vice president on Saturday after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Ahmadinejad his decision to appoint his controversial aide as his new deputy would cause “division and frustration.”
The sacking of the Saffar-Harandi, Ejeie and Jahromi was reported by state owned English language television station Press TV.
The pro-government Fars News Agency reported late Saturday that after dismissing Mashai, Ahmadinejad promoted him to the key position of head of the president’s office, a move expected to infuriate critics.
In a letter to Mashai, the president wrote: “Since you are a faithful, devoted and trustworthy person, I will appoint you as the adviser and the head of the president’s office.”
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
