BAGHDAD, 14 February 2008 — Iraqi MPs unanimously approved three flagship bills, including a delayed state budget for 2008, yesterday ending weeks of brinkmanship that had sparked talk of a possible dissolution of Parliament. “We adopted three bills unanimously, including the budget,” First Deputy Speaker Khaled Al-Attiya told reporters after the session.
The other two bills adopted were an amnesty law and one setting out the powers of the provinces and procedures for provincial elections, which should be held before the end of 2008. The passing of the bills had been among 18 “benchmarks” set by Washington to measure the pace of political reconciliation in Iraq and the votes adopting them were hailed as “very significant accomplishments” by US ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker.
The $48-billion state budget had been due to be adopted before the end of last year but had been held up amid bickering between Iraq’s rival Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni blocs which each championed one of the three flagship bills.
