USA steps up pressure for IAEA chief's departure

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Sunday stepped up pressure on International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei to leave his post, amid reports that US officials were scrutinising his telephone calls with Iranian diplomats.

The White House reiterated its support for a term-limit for UN organisation chiefs that would require the 62-year-old Egyptian diplomat to step down as head the IAEA when his second term expires next year.

"The United States government has always supported the policy that heads of UN organisations should stay no more than two terms," said White House spokeswoman Suzy DeFrancis.

She was responding to a Washington Post report that US officials were combing through intercepted phone conversations between ElBaradei and Iranian diplomats for evidence of missteps that could be used to force his ouster.

DeFrancis declined to respond to accusations of eavesdropping, saying she could not comment on intelligence matters.

ElBaradei, who has run the UN watchdog agency since 1997, angered members of the Bush administration by questioning US intelligence on Iraq and later by adopting a cautious approach to Iran's nuclear programme.

He was appointed to a second term in September 2001 and has been asked to stay on for a third term by members of the IAEA board.

Experts said the Bush administration has been pressing for ElBaradei to observe the two-term limit for months and now appears to be intensifying pressure to oust him.

"The two-term argument has not worked, and there appears to me to be an effort by someone in the administration to pursue another route," said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, a private Washington-based arms control policy group.

"What would the impact of such a change be on very urgent problems having to do with North Korea, Iran and the A.Q. Khan network? It appears to me that some in the Bush administration are simply seeking retribution," he added.

The Washington Post report, sourced to three unnamed US government officials, said intercepted phone conversations had produced no evidence of nefarious conduct by ElBaradei.

But it said some within the administration believe the conversations show ElBaradei lacks impartiality because he tried to help Iran to navigate a diplomatic crisis over its nuclear programmes.

Others say the transcripts exhibit standard telephone diplomacy, the Post said.

A CIA spokesperson declined to comment on the Washington Post's account, as did a spokeswoman for the US State Department.

The United States accuses Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under cover of its atomic energy programme. Iran denies the charge.

While Tehran agreed to suspend uranium enrichment activities last month under international pressure, it insists the suspension is temporary.

The newspaper said the United States had been canvassing for possible candidates to replace ElBaradei, but had yet to settle on one ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline.

- REUTERS