Iraqi PM defends plan to trim Kurdish region's budget share
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Iraq's prime minister has defended a proposal to trim the self-ruled Kurdish region's share in next year's budget from 17 percent to 12.6 percent.
Haider al-Abadi told reporters Tuesday that the proposal is not "a punishment" to the Kurds in the wake of controversial independence vote held late September. That vote saw a majority support from the Kurds. Baghdad considers it unconstitutional and illegal.
Al-Abadi says his government is considering the region's population data, the real needs of all Iraq's regions and the poverty level nationwide.
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The proposal is still under discussion in the Cabinet. It must be endorsed and sent to parliament for final approval.
Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the Kurdish region has been entitled to 17 percent of the budget based on political agreements.