Despite urging UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei to step down after two terms, the Bush administration may be unwilling to undertake an all-out political battle to oust him, US officials and diplomats say. ElBaradei, who has worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency for 20 years, officially announced his interest in a third term late last month, rebuffing President George W. Bush's team, which said it hoped he would step down and allow the appointment of a new leader. A senior US official said: "We'd rather see an elegant way out for everybody. What we're seeking is a resolution that doesn't force the issue."
| "We'd rather see an elegant way out for everybody. What we're seeking is a resolution that doesn't force the issue." |
| "He's an idiot, but we'd rather he leave on his own." |
Bush and Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry have both declared that keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists would be their first priority after the Nov. 2 election, and the IAEA is a key player in efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction. IAEA directors-general traditionally have not had term limits. But western countries have discussed the need for limits and the White House affirmed its preference for a two-term cap. Bush administration hardliners, led by Undersecretary of State John Bolton, fault ElBaradei and the IAEA for not being tough enough on states seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction, including Iran and North Korea. In the runup to the Iraq war, Elbaradei stoked US anger by saying IAEA inspectors had found no evidence of a continuing nuclear programme in Iraq. |