Ahmadinejad sacks second minister

Minister of Cooperatives Mohammad Nazemi Ardekani was a "very good and hardworking member of the government but we decided to use his qualifications in another position," Ahmadinejad said, without saying what the new job would be.

"These changes are done to serve the people better," he added, according to the ISNA agency. Ahmadinejad has put forward Mohammad Abbasi, an MP, as Ardekani's replacement.

Ahmadinejad in September sacked his welfare minister but also last week successfully fended off an attempt by MPs to impeach the Agriculture Minister Mohammad Reza Eskandari.

Parliament had expressed concerns over the qualifications and competence of several of Ahmadinejad's ministers when they were first presented in 2005.