Iranian President dismisses Govt official [November 02 2008]

Iran's official news agency says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed a government official over allegations he tried to pay lawmakers in exchange for their promise not to impeach a minister. The official, Mohammad Abbasi, allegedly tried to persuade parliament members last week not to impeach the country's interior minister by offering them money.

The minister, Ali Kordan, is facing an impeachment hearing on Tuesday after he admitted he held a fake honorary degree from Oxford University. The news agency, IRNA, said today that Ahmadinejad decided to dismiss Abbasi after he was told about the accusations on Saturday.