NYT:

The Iranian Parliament voted to dismiss a top minister on Tuesday, in a setback for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad eight months before he faces presidential elections.

The Parliament dismissed the official, Ali Kordan, the interior minister, after he admitted to faking his university degree and tried to bribe members of Parliament not to impeach him.

The dismissal underlines the assertiveness of the Parliament at a time Mr. Ahmadinejad is struggling to cope with a growing economic crisis. Inflation is running at 30 percent and falling oil prices in a country that has the second largest known oil reserves in the world are undermining the budget.

Analysts said the vote confirmed the division between conservative forces in Iranian politics ahead of the presidential vote in June next year when Mr. Ahmadinejad faces re-election.

Out of 247 present at the vote in Parliament, 188 members voted to dismiss Mr. Kordan while only 45 legislators voted against his dismissal. Fourteen members abstained.

The dismissal means that Mr. Ahmadinejad must now submit his whole cabinet to a vote of confidence before Parliament.

Posted by Laura at November 4, 2008 11:27 AM