BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Belgian prosecutors said on Thursday they had detained several individuals over suspected bribery in the European Parliament allegedly for the benefit of China's Huawei. Belgian investigators carried out searches of 21 premises across Belgium and in Portugal on Thursday morning.

Authorities said the supposed perpetrators resorted to payments, food and travel gifts, and invitations to watch soccer matches in exchange for favorable political decisions that would promote private commercial interests.

The European Parliament says he lobbyists working for Huawei have been suspended from entering its premises following the arrests of several people in a corruption probe linked to the European Parliament and the Chinese company.