Apr 17, 2004- Apr 22, 2004

Cabinet reshuffle happened finally; Minister of Economy was substituted by ex-minister of Labor. In his weekly interview Khatami announced that the head of the Organization of Planning and Management would be dismissed too.

The news was a shock for the conservatives who expected the dismissal of the ministers whom THEY disliked. Khatami announced evidently that during the remaining one year and half of his presidency, he demands a better coordination between the organizations working under his supervision. When Kayhan daily reporter, the loudest megaphone of extreme right, asked him sarcastically that of the dismissed men's economical logics, which one he liked better, he replied:" I prefer my own."

The other news coming to the first title of the reformist dailies on Apr 18, was the health condition of Siamak Poorzand one of the opponents in custody. Husband of one of the most famous lawyers of the country- Mehrangiz Kar- Poorzand has been facing many accusations from espionage and links with western countries to having affairs with young girls at the age of his own daughter. Sharq quoted his sister, Mahin Poorzand, on Wed 21:" Last Sunday I went to meet my brother in prison. It lasted half an hour. He was not well at all. He couldn't walk and the guards had to help him to walk. ….. I was told later that he was taken to a hospital close to Evin prison. Nobody of the officials contacted me in that regard. I just had a call from an unknown recourse telling me about my brother being hospitalized in the emergency." There were worries about Mr Poorzand's critical situation. Later it was told that he had passed the crisis but has to go under heart surgery.

At the end of the Iranian week, the most surprising news popped up not in dailies but on the Internet. It was an open letter the Iranian Syndicate of Journalists wrote to the Leadership on Thu, 22. They dared to speak frankly to Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader and call him to account for his direct responsibility of shutting more than 100 reformist dailies down in less than four years. Referring to the letter the Syndicate had written to him more than two years ago, they have accused Khamenei to be the person giving orders for closing down the dailies: "We believe that the role of the Leadership in illegal restraints against the press, has been the main role and has been materialized through assigned institutions working under his supervision such as judiciary power, Guardian Council, Expediency Council, the Higher Council of National Security, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting…….."

L. Khosravi's report on latest headlines of Persian-Language Dailies in Iran:

This week began with the news about Iraq turmoil and the role Iran probably had in it. The news fluctuated from the direct links to official stands denying any activities in favor of or against the forces fighting in Iraq.

While there were rumors that some forces in the ultra conservative wing in Iran supported Moqtada Sadr, Iranian government rather likes to be shown as opposed to him. Official stance of the Government always has been in favor of The Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution (majles ala) tactics which although being against the occupation, never has welcomed armed clashed. When conservatives are not against Sadr's hot stands, reformists are against him clearly. " "Moqtada Sadr is alone." – Hambastegi Daily wrote on Apr 12.

Saturday – Apr 10 which was the beginning day of work in Iran had rumors telling about the expel of Hassan Kazemi Qomi – charge d' affaires of Iranian embassy to Baghdad. Sharq Daily wrote about his background to be the Iranian consul in Afghan city of Harat before being assigned to his new post in Baghdad. He was accused repeatedly by American forces to interfere in Iraqi domestic affairs. Mr Kazemi denied the news in an interview with AFP- Aftab Daily wrote in April 10. This news later was covered by the news regarding the travel of a high rank delegation from Iranian ministry of foreign policy to Iraq. According to Iranian government, the delegation tried to settle down the clashes inside the neighboring country. Later, the events revealed that they couldn't do that much. The possible attempts of the delegation came to an end and they went back to the country with Mr Naeemi's body- Iranian embassador to Iraq- who was shot to death in his car a few days after delegation's arrival to Baghdad.

Inside the country, the process of resignations of MPs goes on. During the previous week two others resigned- Mr Nabavi and Mr Mazroo'ee. The latter's resignation wasn't approved but Mr Nabavi's which was accompanied by a firey speech put an end to his 25 year old activities inside the system of power. His speech was too hot to be published in the dailies inside the country which still have the Damocles' sward of being closed down above their necks. But the website of Majlis published his resignation announcement telling long stories of reformists' attempts for pushing the movement forward despite the conservatives' tricky policies.

On the last working day of previous week, a report was read in Parliament tribune about the current condition the religious political prisoners live in. Jamile Kadivar one of the reformist MPs gave disclosing report about the solitary confinements, being deprived of newspapers and the news. The mentioned group consisting the religious opponents of the regime, have a long story of frequent detentions and release. The last group of them is accused to have hands in student turmoil sweeping the universities last June.

Another news filling the political air during the previous week, were the rumors concerning cabinet reshuffling. Although there were heard names of four ministers to be substituted by new names, it wasn't confirmed officially. Ramezan- zade, speaker of the Government said later:" There has been requests of resignation submitted by some ministers but we haven't discussed about them yet."

The seventh Parliament in which the seats were swept by conservative candidates in last Feb election, is going to begin the work in next May. On Wed Apr 14, the newly elected MPs gathered and discussed their future strategy and tactics- Sharq Daily wrote. They seem to be very content of the results of the election which was called ' a parliament coup' by the reformists to begin the work even before the scheduled time.