Text Only
Search

 
Iraqi Parliament Fails to Pass 2008 Budget, Adopts New Flag

22 January 2008

A dispute between Iraqi lawmakers has stalled what was expected to be easy passage of Iraq's 2008 budget.

The $48-billion budget deal fell apart late Monday after a dispute between Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish lawmakers over how some of the money would be spent.

Lawmakers disagreed over the plan to allot 17 percent of the budget to the oil-rich and largely autonomous northern region of Kurdistan.

Iraq's parliament did vote Tuesday to adopt a temporary, new flag - no longer displaying what has been described as Saddam Hussein's handwritten phrase, "Allahu Akbar."  Instead, the words will be printed.

The new flag will also omit the distinctive three stars.  However, it will keep its red, white and black stripes.

Iraqis argued the old flag was a reminder of Saddam's brutal rule.

There was more violence in Iraq Tuesday.

In Diyala province, Iraqi security forces found the bodies of at least six family members who had been shot execution-style.

In Baquba, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a school entrance, killing one person and wounding 21 others, most of them students and teachers.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

 

emailme.gif E-mail This Article
printerfriendly.gif Print Version

  Related Stories
UN Envoy: Iraq Reconciliation Key to Sustaining Security Gains
Blast in Northern Iraq Kills 15 at Funeral Service
 
  Top Story
Four NATO Soldiers Killed in Southern Afghanistan

  More Stories
Officials: Maoists Kill 26 Police Officers in Central India
Japanese Protest Violence in Western China
Five Iranians Detained by US in Iraq for 2 Years Return Home
Mexican Police, Soldiers Killed in Multi-City Attacks
US Attorney General Considers Torture Probe
Obama Returns Home From European, African Trip
Alleged Coup Plot Puts Guinean Army on High Alert 
Lithuania Swears In First Woman President
Curfew Lifted in Honduras
Al-Qaida in North Africa Frees Swiss Hostage
Park in the Sky Opens in New York  Audio Clip Available
China Rushing Supplies to Quake-Hit Zone  Audio Clip Available
Thousands Remember Europe's Worst Massacre Since World War II