Iran's Ahmadinejad may face battle over cabinet
Reuters / Hossein Jaseb
19-Aug-2009

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses the nation on Thursday to present a cabinet expected to include a relative novice as oil minister, but he may face a tough battle to win parliament's approval.

The outcome will another test of how secure the hardliner's grip is on power in the major oil exporter after a disputed June presidential poll that led to street protests and political turmoil.

Ahmadinejad had been expected to submit his proposed list of ministers to the assembly by a Wednesday deadline, but it was not immediately clear if he had done so by midnight (1930 GMT).

Parliament must approve his cabinet and he may get a rough ride from conservatives who dominate the assembly, as well as from moderate foes who see his government as illegitimate.

"If the president does not send the list of proposed ministers, it would be the first case of law violation by the tenth government," vice parliament speaker Mohammad-Reza Bahonar told the Mehr News Agency on Wednesday evening.

State media said Ahmadinejad would deliver a televised speech on Thursday evening, postponed from Wednesday, to introduce ... >>>

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