Iran parliament to question Ahmadinejad over fraud

Dunya News

Iran's parliament is will summon Ahmadinejad for questioning over an economic scandal.

Irans parliament is set to summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for questioning over an economic scandal and his polices after the required number of lawmakers signed a petition Sunday, the latest salvo in a long battle between the president and his rivals.Ahmadinejad would be the first president to be hauled before the Iranian parliament, a serious blow to his standing in a conflict involving the president, lawmakers and Irans powerful clerics.At least 73 lawmakers signed the petition to question Ahmadinejad, just above one-quarter of the 290 members required by Irans constitution to call in a president.Earlier the parliament found Ahmadinejads economics minister guilty in relation to a $2.6 million fraud case, considered the largest in Irans history.This is just one of several economic misconduct cases that target Ahmadinejad allies, evidence that his political struggles are a factor. Ahmadinejad has been wrestling with the parliament and the clergy over in the run-up to parliamentary elections in March and a presidential election in 2013.Ahmadinejad has come under increasing attacks in recent months from the same hard-liners who brought him to power.