Qatar Orders Finance Minister's Arrest Amid Investigation

Qatar's attorney general has ordered the arrest of the country's finance minister for questioning in a probe into alleged misuse of public funds and abuse of power, state media reported on Thursday.

The attorney general ordered Ali Sharif al-Emadi's arrest to "investigate what was mentioned in reports of crimes related to … damage to public funds, abuse of public office, and abuse of power," the Qatar News Agency said in a report.

The attorney general has "ordered extensive investigations regarding the crimes," it added.

Al-Emadi has been serving as Qatar's finance minister since 2013.

He is also the executive chairman of Qatar Airways and chairman of the board of the Qatar Investment Authority.

Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara -