The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, has decided to temporarily relocate to Bahrain all IAEA personnel currently in Baghdad.

This action was taken after the decision of the United Nations Special Commission, on whose logistic support the IAEA's activities in Iraq are dependent under the existing arrangements, to withdraw all of its personnel from Iraq, and out of concern for the safety and security of IAEA personnel.