US urged to drop opposition to re-appointment of IAEA head News
US urged to drop opposition to re-appointment of IAEA head

[JURIST] Member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] are urging the United States to drop its opposition to a third term for current Director General Mohamed ElBaradei [official bio]. The US has become increasingly displeased with ElBaradei due to what the US sees as a lack of cooperation on Iraq and Iran and was reported to have bugged ElBaradei's phones [JURIST report] in an effort to find evidence that could be used to remove him from his position. Diplomats on the IAEA board are saying that the US is isolated in its opinion and that "The best policy for the US would be to back ElBaradei and then work with him. But ElBaradei will have to work hard to establish good relations with the new [US] administration." The IAEA will meet on April 27 to discuss a new term for ElBaradei, whose current term ends in September. Reuters has more.

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