TEHERAN: Iran's Parliament on Sunday impeached reformist Interior Minister Abdullah Nouri but moderate President Mohammed Khatami, in a counter move, appointed him as a vice-president. As many as 137 of the members present voted for and 117 against the dismissal of nouri, while 11 members abstained, it said. The impeachment was seen as a victory for conservative members of Iran's ruling clergy and a setback for Khatami, who assumed office last August after a landslide victory in the May elections.

Ultras held

IMPHAL: At least four activists of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) were arrested by security forces from different places in Manipur since Saturday. Official sources said that three NSCN-K activists, identified as Lovejoy (24), Romeo (21) and S T Munthum (42), were arrested by Army troops from different places in Imphal west district on Saturday.

Panchayatpolls

CHANDIGARH: The panchayat polls in Punjab on Sunday passed off peacefully with around 75 per cent polling reported from different parts of the state. According to state Election Commissioner C D Cheema, no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state. Cheema further said that the counting process was in progress.