Cabinet approves 2009 general budget

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The official spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali al-Dabagh said that the Iraqi Council of Ministers approved the 2009 federal budget after making necessary amendments. “The cabinet agreed during its 51st session on the mechanism to implement the framework and the U.S. troops withdrawal agreements,” al-Dabagh said in a statement released on Tuesday night received by IraqiNews.com. “The cabinet also agreed to consider December 25, 2008 an official holiday on the occasion of the Christmas,” the statement added. SH (P) 1