May 11 (Reuters) - The UK fraud office stepped up its probeinto British bank Barclays Plc's dealings with Qatar,the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
Officials at Barclays were not immediately available forcomment Sunday afternoon.
Bob Diamond and John Varley, both former chief executives ofthe bank, and other senior members of Barclays' formermanagement are set to be questioned under caution by the UK'sSerious Fraud Office, the article said.
The Financial Times said this was an acceleration of theSFO's probe into allegedly corrupt arrangements with Qatar aspart of the bank's emergency cash call in 2008.
For Barclays, which launched a big restructuring plan lastweek to boost lagging profitability, the news is an unwelcomereminder of the legacy issues hanging over the bank.
"They've just sliced off two arms and a leg, and stillsomeone's out to get them," said one person involved, accordingto the article. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Eric Walsh)