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Khatami Hands Parliament New Cabinet List
TEHRAN, Aug 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iran's re-elected reformist President Mohammad Khatami has re-introduced five of his leading ministers to take the same posts in his new cabinet.
Khatami, who took his oath of office before parliament Wednesday, submitted the names of appointees to his new cabinet to the reformist-dominated parliament (Majlis) for a vote of confidence, Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported.
Most ministers in his current cabinet have retained their posts despite criticisms raised within various political circles against some, according to IRNA.
Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh is to serve for another four years despite criticisms and allegations of mishandling the ministry and corruption, especially in the award of government buy-back oil deals to foreign companies.
Kamal Kharrazi is also to serve a second term at the helm of the foreign ministry.
Intelligence Minister Ali Younessi, Defense Minister Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani and Interior Minister Abdulvahed Mousavi Lari have also retained in posts.
Khatami, however, did choose a new candidate for the post of economy minister.
Tahmasb Mazaheri, a former actvist and head of the powerful state-owned Disinherited Foundation in the 1980s, is currently the president's advisor on economy affairs and has been nominated to take over the post as economy minister.
After the complete cabinet list is put forward, parliament will take a week to hold a vote of confidence on each minister's appontiment.
In his preliminary swearing in ceremony on August 2nd, Khatami said, "The president of the republic is certainly responsible to the supreme leader and parliament, but he is above all directly responsible to the people," adding that the regime should "recognize the people's right to protest and criticism".
"The people have the right to pose questions, to know, to criticize and to protest," Khatami said, noting that the "president of the republic is the second state personality" after the supreme leader.
"Control, criticism and protests constitute an undeniable right of the people," the 57-year-old leader said.
Addressing the country's top political, religious and military personalities, Khatami recalled that the "Islamic regime is based on Islamic law, but also on the values of republicanism".
Later, Khatami was sworn in for a second term in office on August 8th, in a ceremony delayed for several days due to a dispute between conservatives and reformers.
Khatami swept to a second term in elections held in June, with 77% of the vote.
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