Iran President Ahmadinejad urged to dismiss deputy

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In this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Students News  Agency (ISNA) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, sits  next to his controversial choice for First Vice-President Esfandiar  Rahim Mashai, during a ceremony to mark his farewell as vice president  in charge of tourism and cultural heritage, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday,  July 22, 2009.

A senior cleric and member of Iran's Experts Assembly has urged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to obey the supreme leader's order to dismiss his top deputy. They have warned that continued defiance would undermine his legitimacy and alienate his supporters.

Senior cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami is caling on Ahmadinejad to obey the order of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as soon as possible.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Leader ordered the president to remove Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashai. But Ahmadinejad has pleaded for more time to explain the reasons for choosing his man. Hundreds of students also took to the streets on Friday calling on Ahmadinejad to remove Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, or face a withdrawal of their support for his presidency.