IAEA chief El Baradei won't seek fourth term as UN nuclear watchdog head
Egyptian was awarded Nobel Peace Price in 2005, and has clashed with U.S. and allies over alleged soft treatment of Iran.
By Reuters Tags: Iran IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed El Baradei plans to leave office after his third term expires in November 2009, according to an IAEA memo released on Wednesday.
El Baradei who has presided over politically volatile IAEA investigations into nuclear activities of North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria since becoming director in 1997, "is not available for a further term in office", the memo said.
The 66-year-old Egyptian and the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 just months after the United States tried in vain to foil his election to a third term by the IAEA's 35-nation board of directors.
El Baradei, who has clashed with the United States and allies over alleged soft treatment of Iran, accusations he rejected, had been expected to leave at the end of his current mandate, diplomats accredited to the IAEA said.
The IAEA memo, sent to IAEA board members on Friday, said the deadline for nominations of candidates to succeed El Baradei was Dec. 31, and informal consultations would ensue in search of board agreement on the next agency director.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
