Presidential divan denies returning budget law to parliament

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s presidential divan said Thursday that the presidency did not return the 2009 budget law to the Iraqi Parliament, according to the state-run al-Iraqia channel. Some media sources had reported on Wednesday (Mar. 18) that the presidential council returned the budget law to the parliament. On March 5, the Iraqi Parliament approved a cut of 5 trillion Iraqi dinars, or around $4.3 billion, off the general budget, which was brought down to $58 billion. SH (P)/SR 1