Australia says supports ElBaradei as UN atom watchdog chief amid spying ro

[maddezmom]

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia said it had confidence in UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei despite a report that close ally Washington has spied on him and wants Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to take over the job.


With ElBaradei's second term as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief about to end, The Washington Post reported that US officials have listened in to telephone conversations between him and Iranian diplomats, seeking ammunition against him.


The administration of President George W. Bush (news - web sites) opposes a third term for ElBaradei, regarding his stance on Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program as too soft, and wants to replace him with Downer, the newspaper said.


However, Downer has been unwilling to take on the job, it said.


Downer's office maintained a firm silence on the issue Monday, but Defence Minister Robert Hill said the government had confidence in ElBaradei.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1511&ncid=1511&e=5&u=/afp/20041213/wl_afp/usirannucleariaeaelbaradeiaustralia_041213083310

[rooboy]

1. Alexander Downer's nickname over here is "Lexx Loser"...

say no more.

[UL_Approved]

2. What a "Downer" it will be when Bush gets the brush-off

I hope our lovely Commander-in-Thief gets this rammed up his arm hole that Cheney uses to control him.