Amano formally appointed IAEA chief

VIENNA (Kyodo) The International Atomic Energy Agency formally approved on Monday the appointment of Yukiya Amano as the next chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

The appointment of Amano, 62, follows his election as the IAEA director general in a special Board of Governors meeting July 2.

He will assume the post in December, when Mohamed ElBaradei leaves office after 12 years.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, in a message to the IAEA conference, thanked ElBaradei for his "many years of outstanding service to humanity and to international peace and security," and expressed his support for his successor.

Amano joined the Foreign Ministry in 1972. During his career at the ministry he held several positions, including director of the Nuclear Energy Division and director of the Disarmament, Nonproliferation and Science Department.