Iraqi ministers called out on non-spending

BAGHDAD, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Much of Iraq’s 2007 capital budget went unspent, so Parliament’s chief of integrity is calling for the heads of the oil and electricity ministers.

The country faces a daunting task, however, spending reconstruction funds in a war zone, with the accusation of corruption looming, preventing action.

Sabah al-Saadi, chief of the Parliament Integrity Committee, said the $18 billion expected budget surplus is too much.

He said the ministers of oil, electricity and trade should be held responsible for not doling out funds dedicated to reconstruction.

“Any Ministry which spent less than 25 percent of its budgeted funds shows a failure of that Ministry,” Saadi told the al-Mowaten newspaper.

The Oil and Electricity ministries face an additional hardship, since their industries' infrastructures are often targets of insurgents and looters.

Pipelines are regularly attacked and transmission lines brought down.