Iran's Ahmadinejad urged to pick "suitable" ministers

TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian lawmaker urged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to appoint "suitable" ministers in his new cabinet so as to prevent cabinet reshuffles in the future, the satellite Press TV reported on Tuesday.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Ahmadinejad should pay special attention to the appointment of the intelligence, interior and defense ministers.

"Those who are appointed to these sensitive positions should be proven worthy," Boroujerdi was quoted as saying.

Iran's prominent lawmakers regarded Ahmadinejad's careful selections as a positive move to secure a vote of confidence by Iran's parliament.

Lawmakers have already sought Ahmadinejad's consultation with them over the picking up of competent and experienced ministers.

On Sunday, Iran's president said he would name at least two women ministers for his new cabinet and would bring forward all his proposed candidates for ministerial positions to the parliament on Wednesday.

Earlier last week, Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani urged Ahmadinejad to pick "experienced" ministers for his new cabinet, saying that "the ministry is not a place for learning. The minister should have received certain degrees (before he is appointed)."

Ahmadinejad formally took oath of office on Aug. 5 following re-election in a disputed presidential election on June 12.

He won 62.63 percent of the total ballots in the election, while his main rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi got 33.75 percent, the Iranian Interior Ministry announced on June 13.

After the official declaration, all the three defeated candidates filed complaints over irregularities in the election, and Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi demanded an annulment of the election.