Iran fires opposition leader from government post

AFP: Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was dismissed on Tuesday from his last remaining government position as president of the Academy of Art, the Fars news agency reported. TEHRAN (AFP) — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was dismissed on Tuesday from his last remaining government position as president of the Academy of Art, the Fars news agency reported.

"Members of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution dismissed Mir Hossein Mousavi as head of the Academy of Art," council member Mohammad Mohammadian told the news agency. "Ali Moalem Damghani replaced him."

Mousavi, a former prime minister, had headed the Academy of Art ever since its establishment in 1999. It was his only position in the government.

Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose controversial June re-election Mousavi continues to reject, heads the council which dismissed the opposition chief.

The Academy of Art is a state-funded body supervised by the president's office which has a stated mission to "preserve Islamic and national art" and "confront invasive cultures."

Mousavi ran for president in June 12 elections which he lost to Ahmadinejad amid claims that the election was rigged, triggering sporadic protests since then.