Iran parliament approves new reshuffle

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran's conservative-dominated parliament on Tuesday approved three new government ministers named by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, despite mounting criticism of his repeated cabinet reshuffles.

New Interior Minister Ali Kordan, a former deputy oil minister with previous service in the judiciary and the elite Revolutionary Guards, was confirmed in office by 169 votes to 100.

Economy Minister Shamseddin Hosseini, a former deputy welfare and social affairs minister, won the support of 217 MPs against 52 who opposed his nomination.

Following their dismissals, both their predecessors -- Mostafa Pour Mohammadi and Davoud Danesh Jaafari -- had joined growing criticism of Ahmadinejad's policies from conservative as well as reformist ranks.

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