Iran parliament summons president for questioning

Tehran: Iran's parliament yesterday decided to summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for questioning over a long list of accusations, including that he mismanaged the nation's economy.

The summons was the first of its kind for an Iranian president since 1979. It follows a petition by a group of lawmakers for a review of policy decisions by Ahmadinejad.

A letter containing the summons is to be sent to Ahmadinejad in the next two days. Under Iranian law, he has to appear in parliament after one month. It's unclear what will happen if he fails to comply.

Mohammad Reza Bahnoar, parliament deputy speaker, said lawmakers have demanded that Ahmadinejad answer a slew of questions on the economy, including purportedly bypassing a special budget for the Tehran subway and public transportation.

He is also to be queried about foreign and domestic policy decisions.

Ahmadinejad will also be asked why he "hesitated for 11 days" to act on a demand by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reinstate intelligence minister, Haidar Moslehi, who was sacked by Ahmadinejad in 2011, and to elaborate on his snap dismissal of former foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, during a trip to Africa.