BAGHDAD – An Iraqi official says authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the longtime governor of the Central Bank of Iraq following allegations of financial wrongdoing.



Supreme Judicial Council spokesman Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar said Thursday that 15 other bank officials are being sought along with Sinan Al-Shabibi, a politically independent economist who has led the bank since 2003.Bayrkdar says he doesn’t know whether any of the officials have been arrested yet. A member of Al-Shabibi’s defense team says they are not aware of the warrants.



The allegations were raised by a special parliamentary committee formed to probe the bank.



They surfaced while al-Shabibi was out of the country on official business.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet voted to replace Al-Shabibi with another official until the investigation is complete. – AP