Kurdish Democrat Calls on Iraqi Government to Open Corruption Files

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Vefa Mohammed, a member of the Kurdish Democratic Party, called on Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi's government to open corruption files and pursue comprehensive investigations into suspects at all levels of government. Mohammed specifically identified several unresolved cases requiring transparency, including investigations into dollar and oil smuggling since 2005, the circumstances surrounding Iraq's economic decline, the Sbeiker massacre, and alleged theft from the Baiji refinery. He demanded that missing and diverted public funds be traced, and called for canceling suspicious election-related contracts. Mohammed also urged an end to the use of political money to finance projects, real estate and election campaigns. The statement said previous governments failed to resolve these files.