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Khatami Receives Cabinet Boost
TEHRAN, Aug 23 (News Agencies) - Iran's parliament has approved all 20 of President Mohammad Khatami's Cabinet nominees set to form the government of his second term in office, Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported.
The vote of confidence came after four days of deliberations over a list of names that had been criticized by both the president's reformist allies, and hardliners alike.
According to BBC's online service, the results were read out loud in an open session following a secret ballot of the 276 legislators.
Each of the 20 ministers received at least 139 votes, the minimum number required for their confirmation.
Reformists criticized the list, accusing some of the nominees of lacking the necessary credentials to push through popular social and political changes intended by Khatami.
There are only five new faces in the cabinet as a whole, and no women.
Conservatives, who strongly oppose the president's drive for moderation in Islamic rulings and the promotion of greater freedom, have said the proposed Cabinet does not contain enough people devoted to boosting economic growth.
After Khatami was re-elected by a 77% landslide in June, there was much speculation about his plans for big changes.
In a speech to parliament before the vote, Khatami defended his choices, BBC added.
"I chose them because of their high ability in management, besides which, they are followers of the Islamic system and have the ability to work together," he said.
The labor minister-designate, Safdar Hosseini, had the most support with 221 votes, followed by the intelligence minister nominee, Ali Yunesi, with 219 votes.
After the results were read, parliamentary speaker Mahdi Karrubi warned that, "All ministers will be under the scrutiny of parliament to see whether they fulfill their constitutional responsibilities."
"More votes bring more responsibility," he added.
One of the more controversial re-appointments to the cabinet is the return of Oil Minister Namdar Zanganeh, who served in the post during Khatami's first term, BBC said.
In the past, Zanganeh has been criticized by both conservatives and reformists for his policy of funding the development of Iran's oil and gas fields through buyback programs.
The policy allows foreign companies to develop fields with their own money and pays them back with a portion of output from the fields.
"Zanganeh's total reliance on buyback contracts has doubled expenses through heavy reliance on foreign contractors and ignoring domestic experts," said Ali Akbar Mohtashami, leader of the reformist faction.
But Khatami has defended the program.
"Buy-back contracts are our best option, considering the legal limitations we face. If we co-operate with foreign companies, some will criticize that and if we form an Iranian company others will criticize that as a state monopoly," he said.
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