Iran

Ahmadinejad names women in new cabinet

Article published on the 2009-08-20 Latest update 2009-08-20 10:29 TU

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Geneva on 19 April 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad broke new ground in Iran by naming three women in his new cabinet.

Ahmadinejad, whose disputed re-election plunged the nation into its worst crisis since the Islamic revolution, submitted the line-up to parliament late on Wednesday.

Under the proposed list, women would head up the country's health, social welfare and education ministries.

It is the first time in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic that women have been included in the list.

Ahmadinejad is likely to face some opposition to the list.

Lawmakers will begin examining the names from 23 August before holding a confidence vote on 30 August.

Meanwhile, an Iranian judge has ordered the closure of the daily Kayhan newspaper, a staunch supporter of President Ahmadinejad.

A complaint was made by Alireza Beheshti, an aide to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, after Kayhan accused him of having ties with American intelligence agencies.

As a result the ban has been ordered, but it can only be imposed after a decision from hardline prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi.

Opposition leaders who claimed the June 12 vote was rigged were branded "traitors" by Kayhan, which is seen as the mouthpiece of hardliners.

This week has already seen the closure of opposition candidate Mehdi Karroubi's newspaper. Karroubi alleges that young men and women were raped in custody after they were arrested for election protests.