BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities arrested several senior political figures, including members of parliament, in a sweeping anti-corruption operation early Sunday, state media reported.The Iraqi News Agency said the arrests were based on statements made by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was detained last month on corruption charges. The agency said those arrested included lawmakers whose parliamentary immunity had been lifted.Iraqi security forces sealed all entrances to Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone before carrying out raids inside the district, which houses key government institutions and foreign embassies.Seven people were arrested, including five members of parliament. Some of those detained belong to the political bloc of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.Authorities did not immediately disclose the specific charges against the suspects.Al-Sudani’s political bloc won the largest number of seats in Iraq’s parliamentary elections last November. However, he stepped aside after parties within the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework failed to agree on his nomination for another term as prime minister.He was succeeded by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman and political newcomer who emerged as a compromise candidate.The arrests are expected to have significant political repercussions in Iraq, where corruption allegations frequently intersect with power struggles among rival political factions.BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities arrested several senior political figures, including members of parliament, in a sweeping anti-corruption operation early Sunday, state media reported.The Iraqi News Agency said the arrests were based on statements made by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was detained last month on corruption charges. The agency said those arrested included lawmakers whose parliamentary immunity had been lifted.Iraqi security forces sealed all entrances to Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone before carrying out raids inside the district, which houses key government institutions and foreign embassies.Seven people were arrested, including five members of parliament. Some of those detained belong to the political bloc of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.Authorities did not immediately disclose the specific charges against the suspects.Al-Sudani’s political bloc won the largest number of seats in Iraq’s parliamentary elections last November. However, he stepped aside after parties within the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework failed to agree on his nomination for another term as prime minister.He was succeeded by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman and political newcomer who emerged as a compromise candidate.The arrests are expected to have significant political repercussions in Iraq, where corruption allegations frequently intersect with power struggles among rival political factions.
Iraq arrests lawmakers, officials in major corruption probe
