Iraq's government is expected to decide on deals with oil majors to develop the West Qurna and Zubair oilfields before the end of 2009, an Iraqi oil official said on Saturday.

Cabinet approval of a contract for an Eni-led group to develop Zubair and for an Exxon Mobil-led consortium to work the West Qurna Phase One project had been early in Novembers, but has been pushed back.

'Before the end of the year, God willing,' the official told reporters in Cairo in response to a question about a timeframe.-Reuters