Iran parliament rejects oil minister nominee

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran’s parliament rejected on Wednesday
four of the 21 cabinet ministers proposed by new President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, including the key post of oil minister,
Parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel said.

Oil Minister nominee Ali Saeedlou gained 101 votes in favor
from the 284 lawmakers present, falling well short of the
simple majority required.

Haddadadel said Ahmadinejad had three months to propose
alternative nominees for the ministries of oil, education,
cooperatives and social welfare.

Many lawmakers had complained that Saeedlou and some of the
other ministerial nominees lacked experience.