February 03, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 14, 1428

WASHINGTON, Feb 2: President George W. Bush will ask Congress for $99.7 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for rest of fiscal year 2007 and even more than that for fiscal year 2008, a Bush administration official said on Thursday.

Bush is seeking $145.2bn in 2008, including $141bn for the Department of Defence with additional funds sought for the State Department and other agencies for war-related costs.

The administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said that Bush would estimate the costs for the Iraq war at $50 bn for fiscal year 2009.

The administration has been under pressure from lawmakers to provide more details about its spending plans for the unpopular Iraq war. Bush will unveil those numbers when he presents his annual budget to Congress on Saturday.—Reuters