Iran-Majlis-Impeachment
The impeachment of Commerce Minister Masoud ir-Kazemi was removed from the Majlis agenda today.

Announcing this on Wednesday, a member of Majlis presiding board noted that Mir-Kazemi's impeachment would take place in another session of the Majlis.

Hamid Reza Babaei stated that the impeachment was postponed due to the withdrawal of six MPs from the case.

"As per the Majlis bylaw, if the number of MPs calling for impeachment of a minister does not reach the quorum, the case will be removed from the Majlis agenda," Haji Babaei said.

According to him, Mir-Kazemi's impeachment session will be held next Wednesday.

Mir-Kazemi was due to attend the Majlis session to answer questions raised by deputies on the performance of his ministry.

The motion to impeach Mir-Kazemi began last week.

Criticism mounted about administration of the Commerce Ministry over dramatic rise in prices of rice and other consumer goods.

Mir-Kazemi said that he has made planning to deal with shortage of rice and that the Commerce Ministry will distribute large amount of rice and other commodities to bring down the prices in a matter of weeks.

He said that the rice crisis was the outcome of limits imposed by producing countries on export of this commodity.