riyadh saudi arabia future king tighten grip power anti-corruption purge arrest royals minister investors include billionaire alwaleed bin talal one kingdom prominent businessmen prince alwaleed nephew king owner investment firm kingdom hold invest firm citigroup twitter among 11 princes four minister tens former minister detain three senior officials tell reuters sunday purge kingdom political business elite also target head national guard prince miteb bin abdullah detain replace minister powerful national guard prince khaled bin ayyaf allegations prince alwaleed include money launder bribery extort officials one official tell reuters prince miteb accuse embezzlement hire ghost employees award contract company include 10 billion deal walkie talkies bulletproof military gear worth billions saudi riyals allegations could independently verify members families detain could reach news purge come soon king salman decree late saturday creation anti-corruption committee chair crown prince mohammed bin salman 32-year-old favorite son amass power since rise obscurity three years ago new body give broad power investigate case issue arrest warrant travel restrictions seize assets homeland exist unless corruption uproot corrupt hold accountable royal decree say analysts say arrest another pre-emptive measure crown prince remove powerful figure exert control world lead oil exporter roundup recall palace coup june oust elder cousin mohammed bin nayef heir throne interior minister mbs know expect follow least remove prince miteb leadership national guard pivotal power base root kingdom tribes past year mbs become ultimate decision-maker kingdom military foreign economic social policies cause resentment among part al saud dynasty frustrate meteoric rise saudi arabia stock index drag briefly recover close high investors bet crackdown could bolster reform long run royal decree say arrest response exploitation weak souls put interest public interest order illicitly accrue money line public fund royal money always clear saudi arabia absolute monarchy rule islamic system law systematically codify elect parliament exist wikileaks cable detail huge monthly stipends every saudi royal receive well various money-making scheme use finance lavish lifestyles analysts say purge aim go beyond corruption aim remove potential opposition prince mohammed ambitious reform agenda widely popular saudi arabia burgeon youth population face resistance old guard comfortable kingdom traditions incremental change rule consensus september king announce ban women drive would lift prince mohammed try break decades conservative tradition promote public entertainment visit foreign tourists crown prince also slash state spend areas plan big sale state assets include float part state oil giant saudi aramco ipo-armo.se international market prince mohammed also lead saudi arabia two-year-old war yemen government say fight iran-aligned militants row neighbor qatar accuse back terrorists charge doha deny detractors crown prince say move dangerous adventurism recent crackdown break tradition consensus within rule family write jam dorsey senior fellow singapore s. rajaratnam school international study prince mohammed rather forge alliances extend iron grip rule family military national guard counter appear widespread opposition within family well military reform yemen war say scholar joseph kechichian say interest al saud dynasty however would remain protect king salman heir apparent mohammed bin salman fully commit wish instill seem determine execute modernize rule establishment 2030 horizon beyond say many ordinary saudis praise crackdown long-awaited saudi official say former riyadh governor prince turki bin abdullah detain accusations corruption riyadh metro project take advantage influence award contract company former finance minister ibrahim al-assaf board member national oil giant saudi aramco also detain accuse embezzlement relate expansion mecca grand mosque take advantage position inside information purchase land official add detainees include oust economy minister adel fakieh play major role draft mbs reform khalid al-tuwaijiri head royal court late king abdullah people twitter applaud arrest certain minister compare night long knives violent purge political leaders nazi germany 1934. bakr bin lade chairman big saudi binladin construction group alwaleed al-ibrahim owner mbc television network also detain least detainees hold opulent ritz-carlton hotel diplomatic quarter riyadh say source contact government guests whose plan disrupt hotel exterior gate shutter sunday morning guard turn away reuters reporter say close security reason although private cars ambulances see enter rear entrance hotel adjacent facility site international conference promote saudi arabia investment destination 10 days ago attend least one hold question detentions follow crackdown september political opponents saudi arabia rulers saw 30 clerics intellectuals activists detain prince alwaleed flamboyant character sometimes use prominence investor aim barb kingdom rulers december 2015 call then-u.s. presidential candidate donald trump disgrace america demand twitter withdraw election trump respond tweet dopey prince alwaleed_talal want control u.s. politicians daddy money get elect father prince talal consider one vocal supporters reform al saud family press constitutional monarchy decades ago future saudi king tighten grip power arrest include prince alwaleed