RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Dozens more people have been taken into custody by Saudi authorities, the kingdom said Thursday, bringing to 201 the number detained in an anti-corruption sweep that investigators say has uncovered at least $100 billion.
Saudi critics and experts have called the purge of top princes and businessmen a bold and risky move by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at consolidating power as he casts his eye toward the throne, sidelining potential rivals and dismantling alliances built with other branches of the royal family.
The sweep comes at a time of increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and its main regional rival, Iran, over the ongoing conflict and suffering in Yemen and a new political crisis developing in Lebanon.
Saudi Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb said 208 people had been called in for questioning, and that seven were released without charge, leaving 201 in custody.
The figure is the first reported by the government and far larger than what was previously known, reflecting a continuing series of arrests throughout the week. The purge began overnight Saturday, initially catching 11 princes and 38 officials, military officers and business leaders. They are being held at five-star hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh.
The 32-year-old crown prince, who is the son of King Salman, is leading the investigation as head of a newly formed anti-corruption committee.
Among those detained are billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and two sons of the late King Abdullah, including Prince Miteb, who until Saturday headed the powerful National Guard.
"The potential scale of corrupt practices which have been uncovered is very large," al-Mojeb said, adding that based on investigations in the past three years, at least $100 billion has been misused through corruption and embezzlement.
Al-Mojeb confirmed that action was taken to suspend personal bank accounts, but he did not disclose any figures. The government stressed that only personal accounts have been frozen, leaving businesses untouched.
Saudis have complained for years of rampant corruption and misuse of public funds by top officials in a system where nepotism is also widespread.
In recent years, Saudi families have also had to contend with austerity measures that have driven up costs while simultaneously being told they can no longer count on cushy government jobs.
Meanwhile, members of the sprawling royal family and their business associates had long been seen as operating above the law. Members of the royal family receive undisclosed monthly stipends from state coffers built up over years of high oil prices.
After oil prices fell three years ago without fully recovering, Saudi Arabia introduced new taxes and lifted some subsidies in order to boost revenue and cut government spending.
Supporters of Mohammed say fighting corruption is part of the crown prince's Vision 2030 plan, a blueprint for how to restructure the country and wean it from its dependence on oil revenue.
Faisal Abbas, the Saudi editor-in-chief of the daily Arab News, wrote in a column this week that the kingdom is "damned if it acts against corruption, damned if it doesn't."
"Anyone who understands who is who in Riyadh knows only too well that none of those arrested -- whether royals or non-royals -- has or would have had any political sway in the current climate whatsoever," he wrote.
Later Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Saudi Arabia and met with the crown prince. He and Mohammed were expected to discuss the crisis in Lebanon sparked by the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Hariri announced his resignation in a pre-recorded message from Saudi Arabia last week.
On Thursday, Hariri's political party demanded that he return from the kingdom immediately in a statement that appeared to imply he was being held against his will.
"The return of the Lebanese prime minister, the national leader, Saad Hariri, and the head of the Future Movement, is necessary to restore the dignity and respect to Lebanon at home and abroad," it said in a statement read by former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, who heads its parliamentary bloc.
Hariri is known to have left the kingdom just once since announcing his resignation, on a brief trip to the United Arab Emirates, a close Saudi ally.
The resignation remains shrouded in mystery. In his televised statement, he said Lebanon had been taken hostage by Hezbollah -- even though he formed a coalition government with the group, which has a substantial representation in parliament, less than a year ago.
Hezbollah's leader and one of Lebanon's most powerful figures, Hassan Nasrallah, has speculated openly that Hariri was being held against his will in the kingdom and even said that it appeared as if Saudi Arabia forced the resignation.
The Future Movement statement suggested the party was moving toward the same conclusion.
Information for this article was contributed by Philip Issa of The Associated Press.
A Section on 11/10/2017