riyadh major gulf stock market slide tuesday jitters saudi arabia sweep anti-graft purge campaign see critics populist power grab ordinary saudis overdue attack sleaze moneyed ultra-elite u.s. president donald trump endorse crackdown say arrest milk saudi arabia years western officials express unease possible reaction riyadh opaque tribal royal politics authorities detain dozens top saudis include billionaire prince alwaleed bin talal move widely see attempt crown prince mohammed bin salman neuter opposition lighten ascent pinnacle power admirers see assault endemic theft public fund world top oil exporter absolute monarchy state rule family intertwine corruption fight long time ago corruption delay society development riyadh resident hussein al-dosari tell reuters god will everything happen ... begin plan say faisal bin ali add want see correct mistake correct ministries correct injustices general population analysts see arrest late string move shift power consensus-based system disperse authority among rule al saud govern structure center around 32-year-old prince mohammed investors worry campaign corruption involve arrest kingdom internationally know businessmen could see ownership businesses assets become vulnerable unpredictable policy shift saudi bank freeze 1,200 account belong individuals company kingdom number keep rise bankers lawyers say authorities seek reassure business community late tuesday central bank say freeze suspect personal bank account request attorney general suspend operations company word corporate businesses remain unaffected business usual bank corporates bank say statement add restrictions money transfer proper bank channel separate statement say prince mohammed direct powerful ministerial committee council economic affairs development ensure national multinational company include wholly partly own individuals investigation disrupt council recognize importance company national economy importance ensure investors could operate confidence saudi arabia state news agency spa say washington heather nauert spokeswoman u.s. state department say urge saudi arabia undertake prosecutions corruption suspect fair transparent manner say unite state receive assurances saudi government would another u.s. official late tell reporters misspoken assurances could discuss public saudi stock index .tasi sink 0.7 percent heavy trade lead share company link people detain investigation market 3.1 percent one stage would finish much low without apparent buy government-linked fund seek prevent panic fund managers say mass pull-out foreign fund apparent among company prince alwaleed kingdom hold 4280.se plunge 10 percent daily limit bring losses three days since investigation announce 21 percent fall wipe billion fortune previously estimate forbes magazine 17 billion dubai saudis significant investors index .dfmgi slip 1.8 percent index abu dhabi .adi less expose saudi money fell 0.4 percent kuwait continue slide index .kwse lose 2.8 percent show investor nerve coincide sharply heighten strain riyadh tehran reflect fresh denunciation adversary iran prince mohammed role yemen continue mutual acrimony political turmoil lebanon another cockpit iranian-saudi rivalry display apparently undimmed taste navigate several challenge simultaneously prince mohammed say iran supply rocket militias yemen act direct military aggression could act war speak phone call british foreign minister saudi force intercept ballistic missile say fire toward riyadh saturday houthis saudi-led coalition back yemen internationally-recognized government target houthis war kill 10,000 people trigger humanitarian disaster one region poor countries iran deny behind missile launch reject saudi u.s. statements condemn tehran destructive provocative slander coincidence heighten saudi-iranian tensions saudi domestic political upheaval stir unease among western governments analysts emergence impromptu policy-making style prince mohammed turmoil region traditionally see stability seem push creation personalize system rule without check balance typically characterize saudi system governance write marc lynch professor political science international affairs george washington university washington post domestic foreign affairs consistently undertake sudden wide-ranging campaign unclear reason shatter prevail norms among hold anti-graft purge prince miteb bin abdullah replace minister national guard pivotal power base root kingdom tribes recall palace coup june oust mohammed bin nayef know mbn heir throne mbn make first confirm public appearance since funeral prince mansour bin muqrin deputy governor asir province kill helicopter crash sunday cause give crash photo share online state media photographer show mbn greet another royal first major family gather since anti-corruption sweep begin crackdown remove remain political counterweight crown prince accord steffen hertog saudi scholar london school economics allow fast decision-making reduce costly involvement princes state contract also potentially reduce internal criticism review new policy initiatives say former senior u.s. intelligence official caution give national guard loyalties prince mohammed could face backlash find difficult believe national guard simply roll accept imposition new leadership arbitrary fashion say purge may go way soothe public disgust financial abuse powerful saudis say doubt detentions soothe anger regular citizen felt name senior leaders appear list immune legal accountability say saudi-based political analyst mansour al-ameer spread general population evidence one exclude legal accountability eventually benefit citizen national development saudi mass arrest jolt market many see overdue swoop corruption