Iranian farm minister survives no-confidence vote

TEHRAN, Oct 22 (Reuters) Iran's agriculture minister survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament today after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defended him against accusations of mismanagement.

Lawmakers who sought to unseat Mohammad Reza Eskandari mustered 98 votes, falling short of the required simple majority of the 247 MPs who voted, state radio reported. Parliament has 290 seats.

Some members of parliament, which is dominated by the Abadgaran faction that backed Ahmadinejad's presidential bid last year, have become increasingly critical of the government, particularly its failure to rein in rising prices.

During the debate, broadcast on state radio, Ahmadinejad dismissed charges that the minister had failed in his duties, saying output of wheat and other produce had risen. He also praised the restructuring of the Agriculture Ministry.

''No government has claimed that there have been no shortcomings in its work,'' the president said. ''The agriculture minister has been successful and hard-working.'' A breakdown of the votes was not immediately available, and it was not clear whether any members of the Abadgaran had voted to oust Eskandari, against Ahmadinejad's urging.

After Eskandari survived, lawmakers halted moves to oust the education minister, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Political bickering has been mounting ahead of December elections to a powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to dismiss the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Local council polls will be held at the same time.

Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, told officials this month to stop criticising the government in public.

The motion brought against Eskandari accused him of mismanagement, excessive import of agricultural goods and endangering infrastructure.

Lawmaker Ali Zadsar said Eskandari had not achieved a goal of self-sufficiency in wheat production. ''The minister should explain how much wheat he has imported,'' he said.

Other opponents of the minister said he had not delivered on promises he presented to parliament when he stood for office.

''We have observed much contradiction in the performance, management and decision-making of the minister,'' Houshang Hamidi told parliament.

It was the second attempt by parliament to unseat a minister in Ahmadinejad's government. Both have failed. The first targeted the defence minister following a military plane crash that killed 108 people last year, but it did not reach a vote.

Some lawmakers had also wanted to oust Education Minister Mahmoud Farshidi. Mousa Qorbani, a member of parliament's presiding board, said today the MPs had dropped that plan ''for the moment'', IRNA reported.

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