Iran parliament summons President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

LONDON. February 8. KAZINFORM Iran's parliament has summoned the president for questioning for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution; Kazinform refers to BBC.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces a long list of questions about the state of the economy, as well as his foreign and domestic policy decisions.

MPs have threatened similar action before, but failed to follow through.

The summons will be sent to Mr Ahmadinejad in the next two days. He must appear in parliament within a month according to Iran's constitution.

That means he could appear after legislative elections on 2 March - the first national elections since the disputed presidential poll in 2009.

Power struggle

Seventy-nine members of the 290-member Majlis voted on Tuesday to summon Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"There is a requirement for the president to answer questions in an open session of the parliament," said Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar in a speech broadcast on state radio.

The Fars news agency published a list of 10 questions which it said MPs would put to the president.

Although they focus on the economy - seeking explanations for perceived failures to enact legislation, tackle unemployment and pay subsidies - some delve into the rift between Mr Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which has been widening for some time; Kazinform cites BBC.

To learn more go to www.bbc.co.uk