Russia's 2009 budget deficit could exceed 7.4% of GDP - Kudrin

WASHINGTON, April 24 (RIA Novosti) - The deficit of Russia's 2009 budget could turn out to be more than the forecasted 7.4% of GDP, the Russian finance minister told economists in Washington on Friday.

"The new economic forecast could require a higher deficit," Alexei Kudrin, who is also a deputy premier, said. He also added that a new macroeconomic forecast for 2009 would be drafted within the next two weeks.