Sole Iran woman minister sacked

27 December 2012 Last updated at 15:59 GMT Ms Dastjerdi was the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi, the sole woman in his cabinet, state television reports.

Ms Dastjerdi was also the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic.

While no reason has been given, the dismissal is being linked to her call for drug price rises to fight shortages caused by international sanctions.

Mr Ahmadinejad rejected her comments, saying her budget needs had been met.

'Inevitable' price rise

Analysts say international sanctions have done significant damage to the Islamic republic's economy and led to a steep currency plunge.

Although they do not directly target medicines, they limit their importation because of restrictions on financial transactions.

Prior to her dismissal, Ms Dastjerdi said that because of the rise in the foreign exchange rate, there would be an inevitable increase in the price of medicine.

She complained of her department's inability to get access to foreign currency she had been promised.

"In the first half of the current year, the Central Bank has not allocated any exchange for the import of drugs and medical equipment," she said.

"We need $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in foreign exchange to meet the needs of the medical sector for the year, but only $650m has been earmarked."

But President Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview that enough money had been allocated to the health ministry.

"No-one has the right to raise the price of medicine," he added.

Mohammad Hassan Tariqat Monfared has been appointed as interim health minister, the Reuters news agency reports.

The EU and US recently announced new sanctions over Iran's nuclear plans.

They suspect Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, something it denies.

Ms Dastjerdi was the first woman minister of the Islamic republic, although a woman did serve as vice-president for the environment under Mohammad Khatami.

View the original article here

Kidnappers 'wanted minister out'

17 December 2012 Last updated at 18:08 GMT Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an internationally respected economist, has tried to tackle corruption in Nigeria Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says her mother's kidnappers demanded her resignation.

In her first public comments since her 82-year-old mother's release, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the kidnappers mentioned her battle against a multi-billion dollar fuel scam.

Kamene Okonjo was freed on Friday after gunmen held her for five days.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala pushed a government policy to end fuel subsidies in January, sparking a nationwide strike.

The government then agreed to partially restore the subsidy.

Kidnapping is common in southern Nigeria, where it is a lucrative criminal enterprise.

'No backing down'

She said her mother, a retired professor, was held without food or water.

"The kidnappers spent much of the time harassing her. They told her that I must get on the radio and television and announce my resignation," Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement.

"When she asked why, they told her it was because I did not pay oil subsidy money."

Earlier this year, a parliamentary investigation found that a scam linked to the subsidy cost the country $6.8bn (£4bn).

Kamene Okonjo was kidnapped from her home in southern Nigeria's Delta state on 9 December.

On Friday, officials said she had been released and that her abductors had dropped her off near her home.

It is not clear whether a ransom was paid to secure her release.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, 58, did not answer any questions after making her statement.

She is an internationally respected economist who has led a high-profile campaign to clean up corruption in Nigeria.

The finance minister said the kidnapping would not change the policy of President Goodluck Jonathan's government.

"For marketers whose transactions are proven to be fraudulent, the position of the Jonathan government is also clear: We cannot and we will not pay," she said.

"We will not back down on this. We will continue to stand firm."

Last week, finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had been threatened recently.

Officials said Kamene Okonjo had probably been released because her abductors were under pressure, following a series of raids by Nigeria's security forces to hunt them down.

View the original article here