Nortel Networks shares slipped slightly Tuesday on news of an RCMP investigation into its accounting.

The announcement of the criminal investigation came two days before the company is to release delayed financial reports for the first and second quarters of 2004.

Nortel shares closed down 5¢ to $4.43.

“The RCMP . . . has not been specific with us about what they’re investigating,” Nortel spokeswoman Tina Warren to Canadian Press. The company will provide an update on its own internal investigation on Thursday, she added.

Nortel is working on a restatement of financial results for 2003 and earlier periods, and expects to release the restatement at the end of the current quarter.

The criminal investigation follows months of informal review of the company by the RCMP.