Tehran, March 4, IRNA - Majlis on Sunday approved the outlines of the budget bill for the next Iranian year (March 2007-March 2008).

IRNA parliamentary correspondent said that out of the 223 members of parliament present in the formal session, 136 MPs voted in favor of the bill, 67 MPs voted against the bill and 13 abstained.

The debate on the outlines of the budget bill took two days during which 54 MPs expressed their views both in favor and against the bill.

The Majlis by-law requires that the debate on a bill to hear views of 15 MPs supporting and 15 MPs opposing the bill.

The budget bill envisaged rls 2,313.5 billion (about $250 billion) both revenues and expenditures.

Some rls 688,397 billion of the revenues of the government will come from ceding the capital and financial assets to the public in line with the privatization program.

... Payvand News - 3/4/07 ... --