Iraqi PM's bid to reshuffle cabinet could cost him his job

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi looks on during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the end of a meeting at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy February 10, 2016. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's political blocs will likely resist Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's attempts to replace politically appointed ministers with technocrats, a possible last-ditch effort to reform the government that could end up costing the premier his position.

Abadi, 18 months into his four-year term, said on Tuesday he wanted to reshuffle his cabinet, which was formed in 2014 and which distributed posts based loosely on political blocs' representation in parliament.