Ahmadinejad sacks key ministers
Iran’s president has fired three key cabinet ministers – all of whom were staunch loyalists – amid an ongoing power struggle between the parliament and his government.
State radio reported today that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had dismissed oil minister Masoud Mirkazemi, welfare and social security minister Sadeq Mahsouli and industry minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian.
A new law passed by parliament requires Mr Ahmadinejad to trim down 21 ministries to 17.
Parliament has pushed for the restructuring of the government, which law makers claim is oversized, and now requires that any cabinet changes be approved by the legislature.
