Japan's Amano assumes post of IAEA chief

Vienna - Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano on Tuesday took over the helm of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, succeeding Mohamed ElBaradei at a time of heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program. "As you know, it is raining," he told senior staff members, referring to the November weather outside, "and the situation surrounding the Agency is stormy now. We have lots of difficult issues, challenges, but I would like to do my best."

Amano, 62, said he would seek to address all issues on the IAEA's agenda, including its role in energy, health care and in making sure nuclear technology is not abused to build weapons.

But the soft-spoken nuclear expert will likely have to invest a lot of energy in the latter role, given Iran's announcement on Sunday that it plans to build ten more uranium enrichment plants in defiance of the IAEA and the UN Security Council.

Agency inspectors might faces tougher times in Iran now that the Islamic Republic has reacted to an IAEA censure over a secret nuclear site by announcing it would further reduce cooperation.

Amano also inherited a proposed nuclear fuel deal for Iran from his Egyptian predecessor, under which Iran would exchange low-enriched uranium for foreign-made fuel to power a medical reactor.

So far, Tehran has not formally replied to the proposal that aims to reduce concern over Iran's uranium enrichment.

Amano spent a good part of his career working with nuclear issues.

He studied law at Tokyo University, considered to be Japan's most prestigious academic institution.

Since joining the Foreign Ministry in 1972, Amano took on increasingly senior positions related to arms control and nuclear non-proliferation, and served as ambassador to the IAEA until this summer.

Despite his experience, he won the election for IAEA chief only narrowly in June, because developing countries favored South African diplomat Abdul Samad Minty and saw Amano as being a candidate of Western, industrialized countries.

"I'll try to be an impartial, reliable and professional Director General," Amano said Tuesday.