Iran Prepares Major Security Shakeup

Middle East Newsline:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reshuffled the security services. Officials said Ahmadinejad has ordered a purge of Iran's security agencies, military, police and other government departments. They said that in most cases the president has installed officers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to replace civil servants appointed in the 1980s.

On Nov. 30, Ahmadinejad appointed IRGC deputy chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as deputy interior minister. Under the appointment Zolghadr would be responsible for the security forces and police.

"The Revolutionary Guards will help the government to assure lasting security in the country and the presence in governors offices takes us in this direction," IRGC commander Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi said.