Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud poses for a photo with National Guard Minister Khaled bin Ayyaf and Economy Minister Mohammed al-Tuwaijri during a swearing-in ceremony in Riyadh. (Saudi Press Agency handout via Reuters)RIYADH: A campaign of mass arrests of Saudi Arabian royals, ministers and businessmen expanded on Monday after a top entrepreneur was reportedly detained in the biggest anti-corruption purge of the kingdom's affluent elite in its modern history. The purge is the latest in a series of dramatic steps by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to assert Saudi influence internationally and amass more power for himself at home. Many ordinary Saudis applauded the arrests, the latest in a string of domestic and international moves asserting the prince's authority. Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Saudi Arabia's best-known international investor, is also being held.

Source: Bangkok Post November 06, 2017 19:52 UTC