A majority of Iranian parliament deputies refused to attend an Iftar hosted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Tehran daily Etemad reported Tuesday. While claiming that only 20 out of the total 290 lawmakers turned up at the Iftar dinner Sunday night, the daily quoted unnamed legislators as saying that their absence was due to Ahmadinejad's refusal to discuss the membership of his cabinet with them.
Legislators voiced criticism after Ahmadinejad refused to consult with the parliament about his new ministers, but the president said that he could not consult with all 290 deputies over his nominees.