Mohamed ElBaradei

Mohamed ElBaradei (Arabic: ???? ????????) (born June 17, 1942, Egypt) is the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an inter-governmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations. ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Controversy

ElBaradei has served as the Director General for the IAEA for two terms since December 1, 1997, and is now set for a third term after the current US administration reluctantly reversed its opposition to him in June 2005. According to the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57928-2004Dec11.html several intercepts were made, on ElBaradei's phone calls concerning Iran's nuclear program, in which the Bush administration hoped to find information that would help to remove ElBaradei as director of the IAEA. ElBaradei has questioned the U.S. rationale for the war in Iraq since the 2003 Iraq disarmament crisis, when he, along with Hans Blix, led a team of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, seeking evidence of weapons of mass destruction. He is also accused by the US of having a lenient approach in dealing with the Iranian program.

Related Topics:
December 1 - 1997 - Washington Post - Iran's nuclear program - IAEA - Iraq - Iraq disarmament crisis - Hans Blix - Weapons of mass destruction

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There is no rival candidate for the upcoming term, though the US tried to convince Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to run for the job (he declined). The decision of the IAEA board of governors was still postponed through May 2005. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=2854 On 9 June, the US dropped its objections after a meeting between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ElBaradei, which opened the way to approval by the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on 13 June. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4075496.stm

Related Topics:
US - Australia - Alexander Downer - IAEA - May 2005 - 9 June - US Secretary of State - Condoleezza Rice - 13 June

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