Al Maliki reshuffles negotiating team

Washington: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has reshuffled a negotiating team working on a deal on withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, the Los Angeles Times reported.

According to the report, Al Maliki dismissed the delegation headed by the Foreign Ministry and picked three officials to conduct final negotiations.

National security advisor Mowaffak Rubaie, Chief of Staff Tariq Najim and political advisor Sadiq Rikabi make up the new negotiating team.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Haj Hamoud, who led the original negotiations, has been removed, the paper said.

Some Iraqis said the reshuffle could undermine the deal, according to the report.

"These are diversionary tactics to avoid a decision," the paper quoted an unnamed Iraqi official as commenting on the prospective accord.