Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran's Interior Minister Ali Kordan speaks during his impeachment proceedings in parliament in Tehran November 4, 2008. Parliamentarians last week backed a move to impeach Interior Minister Ali Kordan, seen as close to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, after he admitted a degree that he said had come from Oxford University was a fake. He said he had been duped.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

   TEHRAN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iranian parliament on Tuesday impeached Interior Minister Ali Kordan for his fake honorary degree from Oxford University.

    According to Iran's state TV website, Kordan's credential was sacked by the representatives' 188 ballots out of the 256 ballot cast in Tuesday's parliament meeting.

    Kordan, who took up the cabinet post in August, acknowledged ina Sept. 27 letter that he was in possession of a forged Oxford University degree. Ever since his announcement, Kordan has faced calls for resignation or impeachment from the parliamentarians.

Iran's Interior Minister Ali Kordan speaks during his impeachment proceedings in parliament in Tehran November 4, 2008. Parliamentarians last week backed a move to impeach Interior Minister Ali Kordan, seen as close to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, after he admitted a degree that he said had come from Oxford University was a fake. He said he had been duped.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    A member of the central committee of the Principalist bloc, AliMotahari, said earlier that more than 30 lawmakers from the bloc, who holds the majority of seats in parliament, have called for Kordan's impeachment.

    Under the Iranian law, an impeachment motion needs a minimum of 10 signatures to be put on the agenda.

    Kordan had asserted the degree was issued through a person who had opened an affiliate office in Tehran in English-language affairs.     He said he had pressed charges against the person, who claimed to represent Oxford University in Tehran, as soon as he found out his degree was fake.