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M. Continuo

Iraqi parliament meets to try to resolve crisis


    BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi lawmakers met on Wednesday in an attempt to end a protracted standoff over the 2008 budget and other bills, which has led to some calls for parliament to be disbanded.

    Scores of lawmakers stormed out of the legislature onTuesday, blaming each other for the deadlock and demonstratingthe deep distrust that exists between the country's differentethnic and sectarian groups.

    Lawmakers have been haggling over the $48 billion (24.5billion pounds) budget for weeks. A deal to pass the budget, anamnesty law that could free thousands of prisoners and a billdefining relations between Baghdad and local authoritiesdisintegrated amid disputes over voting procedures.

    (Reporting by Michael Holden, Editing by Dean Yates)