Wire: Japan's Amano Named New IAEA Chief

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday formally appointed Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano as its new director general of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Amano is replacing Egypt's Mohamed ElBaradei, who is ending a 12-year run as head of the IAEA.

VOA News reported that Amano has held increasingly senior positions in the Japanese Foreign Ministry since starting there in 1972.

His resume shows extensive experience in disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear energy policy. He has also served in the Japanese embassies in Washington, Brussels and Vientiane, VOA News said.

(Report from newswire sources.)