Ahmadinejad appears in parliament for questioning

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appeared in the morning session of the Iranian parliament on Wednesday to answer questions by a number of representatives over his performance. Ahmadinejad is to answer 10 questions posed by 79 members of the parliament. Ahmadinejad is the first president in Iranian history to face questions by parliament, the official Iranian news agency (IRNA) reported. Ali Motahari, an MP from Tehran, is to read out the questions in 15 minutes and then President Ahmadinejad has an hour to offer his answers. The questions include the decisions and performance of President Ahmadinejad's government on such issues as Tehran underground system, economic growth rate, implementation of the subsidiary plan and cultural budget. 250 reporters from domestic and foreign media and press are present in the parliament to cover the session. Yesterday, IRNA reported that eleven parliamentarians withdrew their claims against Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Member of the Majlis (Parliament) Presiding Board Mohammad-Hossein Farhangi said.