This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8168202.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Iranian leader 'orders dismissal' Iranian vice-president 'sacked'
(10 minutes later)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to dismiss his choice to serve as vice-president, state TV says. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed his most senior vice-president, it has been reported.
Appointing Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie was "against your interest and the interests of the government", the ayatollah wrote to Mr Ahmadinejad. The decision, reported by state news agency Irna, came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered Mr Ahmadinejad to do so.
State news agency Irna later reported the dismissal had gone ahead, said AP. First Vice-President Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie had caused anger by saying Iranians and Israelis were friends.
Mr Mashaie had caused controversy in 2008 when he said Iranians were friends with the Israelis. An aide to the president was quoted by Irna as saying Mr Mashaie did not now consider himself first vice-president.
According to Iranian state TV, Ayatollah Khamenei sent Mr Ahmadinejad a clear message. The decision came after a week-long stand-off between Ayatollah Khamenei and Mr Ahmadinejad, who had defended Mr Mashaie.
"It is necessary to announce the cancellation of this appointment," he told the president. Ayatollah Khamenei wrote to the president, telling him that appointing Mr Mashaie was "against your interest and the interests of the government".
Mr Ahmadinejad, who is known for his own outspoken views against Israel, has previously defended Mr Mashaie, calling him modest and loyal to Iran's Islamic system. According to Iranian state TV, the ayatollah's message was clear: "It is necessary to announce the cancellation of this appointment," he told the president.
Mr Ahmadinejad, who is known for his own outspoken views against Israel, had been defending Mr Mashaie, at one stage calling him modest and loyal to Iran's Islamic system.
Hardline studentsHardline students
Hundreds of hardline students took to the streets of the capital, Tehran, in support of the demand for Mr Mashaie to stand down. During the day, hundreds of hardline students took to the streets of the capital, Tehran, in support of the demand for Mr Mashaie to stand down.
They warned they would withdraw support from Mr Ahmadinejad unless he dismisses Mr Mashaie. They had warned they would withdraw support from Mr Ahmadinejad unless he dismissed Mr Mashaie.
During their demonstrations they chanted that defiance of Ayatollah Khamenei's views would not be tolerated, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.During their demonstrations they chanted that defiance of Ayatollah Khamenei's views would not be tolerated, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei has the final say in matters of state, and analysts say he has rarely faced defiance in the past - though that changed in recent weeks with reformists challenging his ruling that last month's disputed presidential election was fair.Ayatollah Khamenei has the final say in matters of state, and analysts say he has rarely faced defiance in the past - though that changed in recent weeks with reformists challenging his ruling that last month's disputed presidential election was fair.
Correspondents say the deepening rift between the supreme leader and Mr Ahmadinejad comes at a precarious time for the president. Correspondents say the rift between the ayatollah and Mr Ahmadinejad comes at a precarious time for the president.
They say he needs hardline support against the reformist opposition who continue to maintain that his re-election was fraudulent. They say the president needs hardline support against the reformist opposition who continue to maintain that his re-election was fraudulent.
The row over Israel broke out last year when Mr Mashaie, then minister in charge of tourism, was quoted as saying that Iranians were friends with the Israeli people, despite the conflict between their governments.The row over Israel broke out last year when Mr Mashaie, then minister in charge of tourism, was quoted as saying that Iranians were friends with the Israeli people, despite the conflict between their governments.
"Today, Iran is friends with the American and Israeli people," he said, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. "No nation in the world is our enemy." "Today, Iran is friends with the American and Israeli people," he said, according to Fars news agency. "No nation in the world is our enemy."