Maliki’s government forces raided the office of Finance Minister Rafe al-Issawi, a well-known senior member of the Iraqiya Coalition, and arrested a number of his employees, al-Babeliya TV reported.
According to this report another military unit affiliated to Nouri Maliki’s office took position surrounding the finance minister’s home and arrested the head of his security team.
Al-Tagheer TV reported citing a source saying a number of al-Issawi’s employees, personnel of his security team and even family members have been arrested.
This is a similar scenario that Maliki carried out against Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, al-Tagheer TV added. This source continued by saying the attack on the finance minister is taking place because Maliki fears he is becoming a prominent political figure and he doesn’t intend to give any active role in the government to Iraqiya Coalition members.