Iraqi lawmaker demands dismissal of Baghdad traffic chief after deadly crash

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi lawmaker Mohammed al-Haffaci has called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to remove the head of the General Traffic Directorate following a fatal crash in Baghdad that killed five members of a single family. The accident occurred on the road to Muthanna Airport in the Karkh side of the capital, where authorities said excessive speed and driver negligence caused a vehicle to leave the road, leaving three others seriously injured. In a video message on social media, al-Haffaci said he had submitted a written request for the director's removal months earlier and criticized the government for failing to act. He described the one-month delay as irresponsible, noting that officials act decisively in terrorism and criminal cases but have not shown comparable resolve in addressing traffic deaths. The lawmaker said the dismissal should not be interpreted as a punishment or criminal charge, but warned that the alleged violations and irregularities could no longer be ignored. He also dismissed the use of drones at the crash site as a media display. Al-Haffaci cautioned that further delays would lead to more accidents and the continued waste of public resources. No immediate response from the prime minister's office or the traffic directorate was reported.