MP says blocs’ demands must be met before budget vote

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A member of the parliamentary economic committee on Monday called on the Iraqi government to agree to the demands of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) and the Sadrist Bloc prior to a vote on the 2009 budget. “The UIA has urged the government to announce the allocations made for southern provinces,” Younadem Kana, who heads al-Rafideen List in the Iraqi Parliament, told IraqiNews.com. The parliamentarian did not reveal when the request was submitted to the government. Kana added that the Sadrist bloc will boycott the vote on the 2009 budget because the final statements of state departments and ministries have not been attached to the budget. SS (P) 1