Iraq's budget to increase amount spent on security, reconstruction

BAGHDAD, Iraq Iraq's 2007 budget will increase the amount of money to be spent on the country's security, as well as giving more money to reconstruction efforts, the finance minister said Wednesday.

Bayan Jabr said the final amount of the budget depended on oil revenues and had not yet been determined, but added that it could reach a total of US$33 billion.

"The strategy of the 2007 budget will ensure the needs of security stability," Jabr said in a news conference held in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone. He said it would be presented to parliament for a vote soon, but did not specify a date.

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