In unprecedented move, Iranian parliament summons president for questioning

China National News Wednesday 8th February, 2012

TEHRAN - In an unprecedented move, the Iranian parliament has summoned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to answer questions before it on the government's handling of economic policies as well as on other domestic issues.

This is the first time since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 that a president has been summoned by lawmakers and is a sign of growing discontent against the policies of Ahmadinejad.

The move also follows the West's sanctions against Tehran, including a ban on importing Iranian oil, a major source of revenue for Iran, over its nuclear programme.

While the West claims Iran is pursuing a weapons related nuclear programme, Tehran maintains it is purely for peaceful purposes.

The lawmakers secured enough signatures - 79 of the 290-member Majlis voted on Tuesday - in order to summon the president. The motion was read out in parliament.

"There is a requirement for the president to answer questions in an open session of the parliament," Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar said in a speech that was broadcast on state radio.

Ahmadinejad is required to appear in parliament within a month of receiving the summons, or he could face impeachment.

The MPs would put around 10 questions before the president, Fars news agency said.

While most questions focus on the economy, some also refer to the rift between Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

One of the questions, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency is, "the president's alleged resistance to accept the Supreme Leader's decree to reinstate the intelligence minister."

Last April, Ahmadinejad had sacked intelligence minister Hojjat ol-Eslam Moslehi, reportedly after the minister dismissed an official with close ties to the president's chief of staff and close confidante, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei.

Mashaei is the president's brother-in-law and. According to reports, Ahmadinejad appears to be grooming him as a successor.

However, Ayatollah Khamenei overruled him and got Moslehi reinstated, which upset the president and led to tensions with Khamenei, who had backed him in earlier days. Ahmadinejad had stayed away from the presidential palace for 11 days in apparent protest.

One of the questions is about the president's decision to sack then Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki while he was visiting Senegal.

This is the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution that parliament has summoned the president for questioning.

Ayatollah Khamenei, who wields ultimate power in Iran, had adopted Ahmadinejad as his protege in the past, but appears to have washed his hands off him now.

Iran is to hold parliamentary elections in March.