TEHRAN The Acting Guidance Minister Ahmad Masjed-Jame'i has shunned the meetings of the Press Supervisory Board (PSB) in order not to involve himself in this sensitive issue.

According to the law the minister or his representative must attend the sessions of the PSB which issue licenses to the applicants who want to establish new publications.

The former guidance minister Atoallah Mohajerani came under the fire of the conservatives for his press policies and was forced to resign.

The second meeting of the PSB was held early this week without the participation of Masjed-Jame'i; it was presided over by Deputy Minister for Press Sha'ban Shaidi Mo'adab.

The performance of the former minister in the area of press has been the most controversial. He is accused of having mishandled billions of rials at his disposal. He is accused of having spent the fund to boost some papers which have been closed down.

The Judiciary has closed down more than twenty newspapers and magazines accusing them of undermining national security.

The license for these papers were issued during Mohajerani's tenure.