The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), meeting this week in Vienna, appointed Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei for a second four-year term as Director General, with effect from the end of November when his first term expires. The appointment is subject to the approval of the IAEA General Conference.

Dr. ElBaradei, who has served as Director General since December 1, 1997 has been a senior member of the IAEA Secretariat since 1984, holding a number of high-level policy positions. He was the Legal Adviser before heading the Division of External Relations, and becoming Assistant Director General for External Relations in 1993.

Dr. ElBaradei was born in Egypt in 1942. He gained his Bachelor degree in Law in the 1960s at the University of Cairo, and subsequently his Doctorate in International Law at the New York University School of Law between 1971 and 1974.

He served as Ambassador in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has served in the Permanent Missions of Egypt to the United Nations in New York and Geneva.

Dr. ElBaradei is married and has a daughter and son.