MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian attorney general Ahmed al-Meghami said he had uncovered the theft or misuse of $700 million of public funds, and suspects much more has gone missing, in an inquiry into widespread official corruption.
Mr Meghami said billions of dollars may have been misappropriated and that his office has ordered 25 arrests to date and issued 10 international warrants relating to fraud within the Palestinian Authority.
He said that in December, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who is not tainted by corruption accusations, asked him to delay a public announcement about the investigation until after the election because he feared it would be seen as a ploy to win votes.