Former Iraqi Finance Minister Sami's office denies flight, detention claims

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The office of former Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami on Friday denied social media reports and news outlets that claimed he had fled the country or been detained, calling the allegations entirely baseless. In a written statement, the office said the claims had no official source and were completely unfounded. The statement condemned what it described as attempts to mislead the public through unverified reports and rumors. It called on media outlets, analysts and social media users to verify information and adhere to professional standards before publishing. The office also asked Iraq's Communications and Media Commission, the country's media regulator, to monitor and take action against misleading news under existing laws. It said legal proceedings would be pursued against those spreading the claims without relying on official sources. No further details were immediately available regarding the origin of the allegations or any official inquiry into them.