Iranian President Fires Officials Then Backtracks
Ahmadinejad
Meanwhile  accounts surfaced of two more protesters killed in recent days. Fresh clashes broke out between security forces and demonstrators charging vote fraud in Ahmadinejad's recent re-election victory outside a canceled funeral service for another of the dead. Reformist leaders  meanwhile  sought to obtain a permit to hold a massive commemoration for those killed in the violence that has followed the disputed June 12 presidential vote.
 Ahmadinejad's latest personnel moves suggests that neither the burgeoning reformist movement shaking the country nor a week-long effort by conservatives against his pick for vice president have spurred the president to change his confrontational approach. It also highlights rising tensions between the president and fellow conservatives in parliament and elsewhere in Iran's political establishment.
 The controversy marked the second time in recent days that Ahmadinejad has faced off against fellow conservatives but ultimately been forced to back down.
 Conservative news agencies close to the government reported that Ahmadinejad abruptly sacked his ministers of Intelligence and Culture and possibly two others early Sunday in what many considered retribution for the ministers' efforts to scuttle Esfandiar Rahim Mashai's appointment as first in line to succeed the president.
 Hours later  Ahmadinejad changed his mind after he ignited a storm of criticism and was told by conservative senior lawmakers that  according to the nation's constitution  he'd have to submit his entire Cabinet to a new vote of parliament if he changed more than one minister  since he had already replaced so many during his four-year tenure.
 The president's office issued a statement saying that only Minister of Intelligence and Security Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei had been fired. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi  a dedicated hard-liner  announced in a blistering note late Sunday that he would resign immediately after receiving "verbal instructions" from Ahmadinejad that he was fired.
 Though Ahmadinejad had long announced plans to reshuffle the Cabinet following his inauguration to a new term in less than two weeks  the sudden nature of the dismissals just days before the government was to expire anyway was considered an insulting rejoinder to conservative supporters of Ahmadinejad who had opposed Mashai's appointment.
 After bowing to Khamenei's request to remove Mashai as first vice-president  Ahmadinejad appointed him chief of staff.
 On Sunday  Ahmadinejad also appointed former Interior Minister Ali Kordan  who had resigned his post after admitting he had tried to bolster his resume with a phony Oxford degree  as his special inspector  who monitors the activities of the ministries and government.
 Ahmadinejad's confirmation for a second-term by Khamenei is set for Aug. 4 and his swearing-in ceremony will take place the next day  a lawmaker announced. Protesters supporting opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi have vowed to stage another day of peaceful protest when Ahmadinejad is formally sworn in.
Meanwhile  accounts surfaced of two more protesters killed in recent days. Fresh clashes broke out between security forces and demonstrators charging vote fraud in [TGT]'s recent re-election victory outside a canceled funeral service for another of the dead. Reformist leaders  meanwhile  sought to obtain a permit to hold a massive commemoration for those killed in the violence that has followed the disputed June 12 presidential vote.
 [TGT]'s latest personnel moves suggests that neither the burgeoning reformist movement shaking the country nor a week-long effort by conservatives against [TGT] pick for vice president have spurred the president to change his confrontational approach. It also highlights rising tensions between the president and fellow conservatives in parliament and elsewhere in Iran's political establishment.
 The controversy marked the second time in recent days that [TGT] has faced off against fellow conservatives but ultimately been forced to back down.
 Conservative news agencies close to the government reported that [TGT] abruptly sacked [TGT] ministers of Intelligence and Culture and possibly two others early Sunday in what many considered retribution for the ministers' efforts to scuttle Esfandiar Rahim Mashai's appointment as first in line to succeed the president.
 Hours later  [TGT] changed his mind after he ignited a storm of criticism and was told by conservative senior lawmakers that  according to the nation's constitution  he'd have to submit his entire Cabinet to a new vote of parliament if he changed more than one minister  since he had already replaced so many during his four-year tenure.
 The president's office issued a statement saying that only Minister of Intelligence and Security Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei had been fired. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi  a dedicated hard-liner  announced in a blistering note late Sunday that he would resign immediately after receiving "verbal instructions" from [TGT] that he was fired.
 Though [TGT] had long announced plans to reshuffle the Cabinet following his inauguration to a new term in less than two weeks  the sudden nature of the dismissals just days before the government was to expire anyway was considered an insulting rejoinder to conservative supporters of [TGT] who had opposed Mashai's appointment.
 After bowing to Khamenei's request to remove Mashai as first vice-president  [TGT] appointed him chief of staff.
 On Sunday  [TGT] also appointed former Interior Minister Ali Kordan  who had resigned his post after admitting he had tried to bolster his resume with a phony Oxford degree  as his special inspector  who monitors the activities of the ministries and government.
 [TGT]'s confirmation for a second-term by Khamenei is set for Aug. 4 and his swearing-in ceremony will take place the next day  a lawmaker announced. Protesters supporting opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi have vowed to stage another day of peaceful protest when [TGT] is formally sworn in.