Iran has sacked its interior minister after it emerged he faked his degree from Britain's Oxford University.
In a major blow to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of next year's presidential election, MPs voted overwhelmingly to remove Ali Kordan, whose job is crucial in organising the 2009 race .
Mr Kordan's impeachment was part of a power struggle between hardline backers of Mr Ahmadinejad and his opponents including reformers and moderate conservatives who blame the government for the failing economy, political analysts said.
Mr Kordan last month admitted holding a fake degree from Oxford although he said he had been duped.
Signatories to the impeachment motion said Mr Kordan could no longer be trusted as interior minister, a post that would put him directly in charge of the June 2009 presidential election.
After six hours of heated debate, 188 of the 247 parliamentarians present voted to unseat Mr Kordan, citing "lack of honesty in submitting educational credentials" and "deceiving lawmakers with an invalid certificate". They comfortably met the majority required.
"From today, Kordan can no longer be the minister," said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who lost to Mr Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential race.
"Parliament showed it is determined to preserve people's rights," he said on state radio.
Reuters
Analysts said the impeachment showed Mr Ahmadinejad was losing popularity even among some of his hardline backers.
"Only 45 lawmakers voted in favour of Mr Kordan. It shows how conservative parliamentarians are losing faith in Ahmadinejad," said one political analyst, who asked not to be named.
Mr Ahmadinejad defended Mr Kordan as "an outstanding personality of the Islamic revolution" and said he would not attend the impeachment session over a "torn piece of paper".