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| Iran |
| Iranian MPs resign en masse |
| 2004-01-21 |
| <SPAN CLASS=HILITE>Via Bros. Judd:> Many Iranian cabinet ministers and other senior officials have tendered their resignations over hardliners’ disqualification of parliamentary candidates, the Iranian vice-president said today, warning that the country’s entire reformist government was ready to quit over the affair. "A number of cabinet ministers and a number of vice-presidents have resigned. Naturally, they are waiting to see how things go, but the cabinet ministers are very serious in their resignation," Mohammad Ali Abtahi told reporters after a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace. Asked whether the country’s president, Mohammad Khatami, would join the walk-out, he said: "It is supposed that all of us will go together." Questioned about his own position, Mr Abtahi smiled but failed to respond... If it’s not a free election in which people can elect their preferred candidate, then there should be a boycott," Mr Armin, who has been barred from seeking re-election, told the Guardian. Aside from the guardian council, hardline clerics also control other key unelected bodies such as the judiciary and the state media. The latter deny reformists’ claims that the disqualifications are a ploy to swing the elections the conservatives’ way and insist that those disqualified failed to meet the legal criteria for candidacy. State television has yet to show footage of the sit-in, but about 80 MPs gather every afternoon in the lobby of the parliament building to listen to speeches and give interviews to journalists. Others have been sleeping in their offices or committee rooms. |
| Posted by:Anonymous2u |
| #2 The plot thickens. Thanks for the update A2U. This situation merits close monitoring; it could get very interesting. |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-22 9:41:17 PM |
| #1 You must eat your meat, How can you have pudding unless you've eat'n your meat? Swallow! |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-21 11:44:20 PM |