Iranian lawmaker urges administrative reforms to combat corruption

TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian lawmaker called for urgent administrative reforms to tackle rampant corruption, in the wake of nationwide anti-government protests, local media reported Sunday.

"The United States is trying to create a new sedition (in Iran) based on economic issues," Abolfazl Aboutorabi was quoted by the Financial Tribune as saying on Sunday.

This underscores the necessity of focusing on domestic issues by the officials to solve the problems of the people, Aboutorabi said.

The Iranian people are fed up with the current administrative system and want to see issues like graft cases and high salaries in the public sector resolved, he added.

Anti-government protests erupted in the second largest Iranian city of Mashhad on Dec. 28 over the government's failure to deal with high inflation and pervasive corruption.

The protests turned violent shortly after and spread to other cities, including the capital Tehran. Enditem