By VOA News

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday formally appointed Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano as its new director general of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Amano is replacing Egypt's Mohamed ElBaradei, who is ending a 12-year run as head of the IAEA.

Amano has held increasingly senior positions in the Japanese Foreign Ministry since starting there in 1972.

His résumé shows extensive experience in disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear energy policy. He has also served in the Japanese embassies in Washington, Brussels and Vientiane.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

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