Iran’s Foreign Minister Is Abruptly Fired While Abroad

"TEHRAN — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the country’s long-time foreign minister on Monday, a sudden move that caught many here by surprise and appeared to reflect a strengthening of the president’s power.
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Hasan Sarbakhshian/Associated Press
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran in 2008.
Mr. Ahmadinejad said in a presidential order that he had dismissed the minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, who was currently traveling on an official trip in Senegal. The overseas location of Mr. Mottaki at the time of his dismissal made the announcement even more intriguing.

It has been well known that the Iranian leader had long sought to replace Mr. Mottaki but had been prevented from doing so until now by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in appointing the heads of several key ministries."

Iran’s Foreign Minister Is Abruptly Fired While Abroad - NYTimes.com: