7 Nov 2017

Saudi Arabia purge continues, accounts frozen

From Morning Report, 8:41 am on 7 November 2017

Saudi Arabian banks have reportedly started to freeze the accounts of those arrested in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's anti-corruption purge. Eleven princes, four sitting ministers and dozens of ex-ministers were detained in the probe, including the well-known billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Critics are saying the Crown Prince's move is less about cracking down on anti-corruption, and more about the consolidation of power, but the Saudi foreign minister told CNN that such criticisms are 'nonsense'.