August 31
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has appealed to parliament to approve his new cabinet, insisting voters had backed him in the June election that unleashed the Islamic republic's greatest crisis.
The conservative-dominated assembly yesterday began a three-day debate on the ministerial nominees chosen by Mr Ahmadinejad before a vote of confidence on Wednesday.
"I hope the majlis (parliament) will firmly approve all ministers and with a decisive vote it will turn the hopes of ill-wishers into despair," Mr Ahmadinejad said as he introduced his cabinet line-up to the assembly.
He said his victory in the June 12 election was confirmation that the Iranian people wanted his government to "continue on the same path" of his first four-year term.
"We are committed to spreading justice, preserving the national dignity, achieve progress and confront the bullying powers.
We will continue to support oppressed nations and co-operate constructively with all nations except the Zionist regime," he said, referring to Israel.
The debate is expected to be stormy, with Mr Ahmadinejad facing a battle to secure a mandate for his line-up, which includes several new faces, among them three women - a first in the Islamic republic.
The vote of confidence comes as Iran is gripped in turmoil after the election triggered massive protests, which left at least 30 people dead. Read more here ...
Source: The Australian
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