Monday, September 26 2005 15:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vienna: The 139-nation International Atomic Energy Agency approved the appointment of Mohamed ElBaradei as its head for a third term today (Sept 26, 2005), reflecting formal backing of his leadership after the United States ended its opposition to his tenure.

The IAEA General Conference approved a third four-year term unanimously, by acclamation, at the start of its plenary meeting. The move had been expected after the IAEA's executive board agreed to the reappointment earlier this year.

The United States dropped opposition to a third term for ElBaradei several months ago, recognizing it lacked the backing of the majority of other board member nations to prevent his reappointment.

Washington viewed ElBaradei as being too soft on Iran for not declaring it in violation of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. That stance blocked a US bid to haul Tehran before the UN Security Council for more than two years, although last week's meeting of the IAEA board agreed to a resolution that clears the path for such action as early as November unless Iran meets international concerns about its nuclear programme.

The United States wanted someone in the post who shares its view of which countries represent nuclear threats and what to do about them. ElBaradei has challenged that view, particularly over Iran and Iraq.