Meanwhile in Iran

Iran's Vice President Forced Out

Ahmadinejad bows to pressure from extremists.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might be enjoying the backing of extremist groups, but their support doesn't come without a price. After Ahmadinejad appointed a vice president who had once expressed a moderate stance on Israel, the groups went into a furor, sending a statement to the vice president asking him to immediately resign or else face "dire consequences." Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei was minister of tourism before being promoted by Ahmadinejad. His resignation is a sign of how much the president is indebted to extremist groups who helped him suppress protests after his disputed re-election. More opposition demonstrations are expected this Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of a 1952 protest.