U.S. credit woes did not affect Iraq – planning minister

BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Iraqi News) – Iraqi Minister of Planning Ali Baban on Friday said that the recent economic turmoil in the United States did not affect Iraq, stressing the necessity of avoiding any side effects that may result from oil prices slump. “It is not yet known whether foodstuffs and basic commodities markets in Iraq would be affected,” Baban told IraqiNews.com – Voices of Iraq – (Iraqi News). “The Iraqi economy requires fundamental reforms and needs to be restructured to minimize reliance on oil revenues,” he said. MH (P)/AmR 1