Monday, November 7 2005 18:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh was on today (Nov 7, 2005) stripped of his portfolio.

"Natwar Singh is no more the External Affairs Minister. He will be a minister without portfolio," a source said.

Earlier, Natwar Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hours after the Government announced setting up of a one-man judicial commission headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice R S Pathak to inquire into allegations of kickbacks in Iraqi oil deals.

The meeting followed discussions Congress president Sonia Gandhi had with senior party leaders and Cabinet ministers.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram was also called to the Prime Minister's house around the time Natwar Singh went there.

This was Natwar Singh's second meeting with the prime minister in as many days.

Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said they have not received any communication from the PMO, as claimed by some television channels, saying Natwar Singh has been made minister without portfolio.