TEHRAN The First Vice President, Hassan Habibi, has written his resignation letter in five pages, but the press were not provided with the text of the letter for publication.

In his letter, Habibi has criticized the function of different parties within the government.

The TEHRAN TIMES in its issue last Monday quoted an informed source as saying that Habibi has resigned from his post.

Habibi's resignation just a few weeks before the end of the first term in office of President Mohammad Khatami indicated that Habibi was no longer interested in holding the position, or that he would not be Khatami's choice for his second term.

There were different nominees for the position, including Mohammad-Ali Najafi, Behzad Nabavi, Mohammadreza Aref, from among whom the probable nominee of President Khatami would most probably be Aref.