Unfavourable divination costs new governor his job

A newly appointed governor in northern Iran has been dismissed after an official divination ceremony to determine his suitability produced an unfavourable result.

Ali Babaei Karnami was appointed as governor of the city of Sari last month, but has been dismissed following the results of the ceremony. Divination, often using the Koran or prayer-beads, is widely followed among conservative sections of Iranian society to make decisions or gain spiritual insight.