Iraq arrests 47, Zaidi launches crackdown on corruption

International observers rank Iraq among the most corrupt countries in the region, a challenge that complicates Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s latest anti-corruption efforts.

What happened: Zaidi vowed on Monday that the recent arrests in the country are only the beginning of a wider effort to root out Iraq’s endemic corruption.

“The recent offensive against corruption is just a first phase, and the government will continue to combat corruption to recover public funds,” he said, adding that authorities will show “no leniency” on the matter.

State media reported on Sunday that 47 people had been arrested in the corruption probe, with a number of the arrests occurring overnight.

Read Adam Lucente's reporting on the arrests and Zaid's crackdown here.