Vienna - Mohamed ElBaradei avoided the media spotlight Friday when he left the global stage as International Atomic Energy Agency's outspoken chief, on his last working day before Yukiya Amano takes over as Director General. The Egyptian diplomat retired after 12 years and three terms in office, at a time when
Iran and the international community are locked in a stand-off over the country's controversial
nuclear programme.
But his last day at the Vienna-based agency was marked by a breakthrough on an issue long championed by ElBaradei:
IAEA member countries approved setting up an international nuclear fuel reserve, as a way to prevent potentially dangerous nuclear
technology from spreading.
The 67-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate told a gathering of staff members he was glad to return to private life, according to a participant.
On December 1, former Japanese diplomat Amano is set to start his 4-year term at the IAEA.
Amano, 62, served as ambassador to the nuclear agency until this summer and is known as an expert in nuclear matters.
He has indicated he would seek a less political profile than ElBaradei, who often spoke out on global matters including poverty and nuclear disarmament.
