Tehran - President Mohammad Khatami of Iran is expected to lose at least one of his cabinet nominees in a parliamentary vetting process which starts today, Iranian newspapers and analysts said yesterday.
But despite the possible loss of critical ministers in key domestic portfolios, the 54-year-old moderate cleric will still emerge with the majority of his cabinet intact and his election mandate for change undamaged, analysts said.
The conservative-dominated 270-seat Majlis, or parliament, is expected to vote tomorrow on Mr Khatami's 22 cabinet nominees after debating in three five-hour sessions, the Parliament speaker, Mr Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri has said. - (Reuter)