Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday that he would make 'minor' changes in the composition of his government in the coming days.
"There is work under way on that at the moment," Maliki told reporters on a visit to Turkey when asked about a possible government reshuffle.
"There will be no fundamental changes, but only very minor ones soon," he said through an interpreter.
Maliki said he was discussing the changes with "all groups involved in politics" in Iraq, adding that the new ministers would be "mostly technocrats and experts."
The embattled Maliki, on a visit to Ankara, spoke as his Shiite-led unity government appeared to be plunging into crisis amid mounting violence.
Earlier Thursday, Higher Education Minister Abed Dhiab al-Ujaili, a Sunni Arab, said "there is no effective government" in Baghdad after dozens of hostages were seized from the education ministry and some were killed.
Ujaili said he was stepping down from the government until it secures the release of all hostages and takes action against Shiite militias suspected of infiltrating the security forces to carry out kidnappings and murders.