General budget amended before passage

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi minister of the planning and development cooperation on Wednesday said that a few amendments will be made to the 2009 budget before it is submitted to the Parliament for approval. “Slight amendments will be made to the budget due to the fluctuation in oil prices,” Minister Ali Baban said in a press conference held at the ministry and attended by IraqiNews.com. “The allocation of 80 percent of the general budget for the operational budget is wrong, but is justifiable due to the government’s commitment to pay salaries of employees,” he added. SS (P)/SR 1