IRAN: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR TO RESIGN

Tehran, 8 May (AKI) - The governor of Iran's central bank, Ebrahim Sheibani announced on Monday his resignation. Appointed in 2003 under the government of president Mohammad Khatami, Sheibani reportedly disagreed with the decision of current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to withdraw Iranian deposits from banks abroad. According to the Rooz online daily, the governor decided to step down after Ahmadinejad asked the bank to withdraw deposits from foreign banks, including Italy's Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, and transfer some 30 billion euros into the accounts of "good, trusted Muslims."

According to the website, which is considered close to the Pasdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps, Ahmadinejad decided in favour of the move in case the UN Security Council decides to impose economic sanctions.

Sheibani reportedly opposed a compromise proposal suggested by Ahmadinejad to move the funds to banks in allied countries such as Syria, Venezuela or Cuba, financial sources in Tehran told Adnkronos International (AKI).