Iraq commodity trade officials fired

Trade Minister Abdul Falah al-Sudani has replaced the heads of Iraq's grain board and the foodstuff trading company which imports wheat, rice and sugar, according to CME Group Commodity News.

The reshuffle came after the Integrity Commission, Iraq’s top anti-corruption body, issued arrest warrants against the two and seven other senior ministry officials.

The sources said that among the officials who had arrest warrants issued against them are Sudani’s two brothers and his spokesman Mohammed Hannon.

The Trade Ministry controls some of the most visible commodities in Iraq, operates the annual $6-billion program to provide monthly ration baskets for all Iraqis and supervises the importation of new cars.

It also oversees the importing of grain, seeds and construction materials.

Dick Ziggers