Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad replaced Road and Transportation Minister Mohammad Rahmati with his advisor Hamid Behbahani in the latest cabinet change, ISNA news agency reported Sunday. ( dpa )
A string of officials, including the oil, economy and interior ministers as well as the planning and budget chief, central bank governor and chief nuclear negotiator have also left the cabinet, most reportedly due to grave differences with the president.
Ahmadinejad has responded to criticism of the changes by comparing his cabinet to a football team, saying that as in soccer, a coach must replace his players from time to time.
Critics of the president accuse him of putting ideology ahead of capability when choosing cabinet members.
He has also drawn fire for failing to consult experts, especially with regard to the economy, currently one of the main challenges facing Ahmadinejad after inflation has risen between 20-30 per cent.