Iranian to head Asian parliaments group

TEHRAN, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The speaker of Iran's parliament was elected Saturday to lead the Conference of General Assembly of the Asian Parliaments Association for Peace.

Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel is a veteran government official who is considered to be a close ally of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's IRNA news agency said Syria was elected to lead the group's Political Committee while Pakistan would head the Women and Children's Committee.

Iran will head the Peace and Security Committee. The committee's report will be presented by the speaker of Afghanistan's parliament.

The international organization is an association of Asian parliaments aimed at promoting peace and stability on the continent.