Maarij arrested in widening corruption crackdown

BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces have arrested dozens of senior officials and members of Parliament, including Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij, in what several government officials described as an ongoing anti-corruption operation that is likely to alter the balance of power in Baghdad and throughout the oil sector.

Maarij was detained at his home in the Zayouna district of eastern Baghdad, according to an oil official, a person close to Maarij, and a copy of a government memo reporting on the operation that was seen by Iraq Oil Report. The memo, dated June 28, said the arrest was conducted by a detachment of Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) involving seven military Humvees.