ElBaradei to step down as chief of UN nuclear watchdog body

[inanna]

Source: UK Guardian

Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog body, the IAEA, who has clashed frequently with Washington, will step down next year, it emerged on Wednesday.

The decision was revealed in an internal UN memo, obtained by the Guardian, which noted that "the director general's term of office expires on 30 November 2009" and "the director general is not available for a further term of office." The memo said nominations for ElBaradei's replacement as director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be considered by its board before the end of this year.

ElBaradei, an Egyptian lawyer who has run the IAEA since 1997, has been repeatedly criticised by the Bush administration, particularly in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, when he refused to bow to pressure to back claims that Saddam Hussein had an active nuclear programme. The US and British governments have also criticised him for being soft on Iran, particularly in his insistence there is no evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons programme, and his reluctance to declare Tehran in violation of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.

Washington attempted to unseat ElBaradei, but his position was strengthened when he and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2005.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/12/unitednations.nuclear

[PDJane]

1. I understand why he wants out,

But I will be very sorry to see him go, especially if he is replaced by a water carrier for the neocon point of view.

He has been an honourable and honest voice.

[annabanana]

2. I think he is an honest man.

He will be missed. I will expect his successor to be subject to GREAT scrutiny.

[Ghost Dog]

3. A long term of excellent service.

Give that man another medal.

Do not allow the choice of his successor to be corrupted (by the usual suspects).