Alexander Downer

The Washington Post reported Dec. 12 that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush wants Downer to take over because it regards ElBaradei as too soft on Iran's suspected nuclear program.

On Dec. 13, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed that Washington was seeking ElBaradei's ouster, but said the only reason was an informal pact among some countries that heads of U.N. and other international bodies should serve no more than two terms.

Downer confirmed that he had been approached by the United States about challenging the chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, but said he had "barely" spoken to Washington about the issue.

"I've not taken up the opportunity to demonstrate a great deal of interest in this job," Downer said. "I appreciate the interest that's been shown, but I enjoy what I'm doing."

Downer declined to say whether Australia, a staunch U.S. ally in the war on terror, would support ElBaradei.

The Washington Post said the United States bugged the phone of ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat who has held the job since 1997, to scrutinize his calls with Iranian officials in search of reasons to call for his removal.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 25, 2004
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