Ahmadinejad said earlier that Iran would limit negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and no longer hold talks with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany over its controversial nuclear programmes.

'We will stand against the world arrogance and will try to have an effective role for changing the world order and remove global oppression, occupation and discrimination,' the president said.

Ahmadinejad has two weeks to introduce his new cabinet to parliament for approval.

According to witnesses at the Baharestan Square where parliament is located, there have been sporadic protests outside the parliament building with demonstrators shouting 'Death to the dictator' and accusing the president of election fraud.

Police apparently used pepper gas, dispersed the crowd and tightened security just before Ahmadinejad was due to leave the building, witnesses said.

The protesters fled into nearby alleys, they added.

For the first time since the June 12 election, the foreign press was invited by the government to cover an event related to the elections.

Foreign media are still prohibited from directly covering the protests, but due to their presence in the parliament, they could also witness parts of the protests outside.

Witnesses said that protests were held in Baharestan Square and in other districts, including the Tehran grand bazaar, where dozens of demonstrators shouted slogans against the president before being dispersed by police.

There had also been several arrests, including Haleh Sahabi, the daughter of prominent secular activist Ezatollah Sahabi, the witnesses added.