Downer not interested in heading IAEA

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A spokeswoman for Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer insisted Thursday he has no interest in heading the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Downer was widely seen as Washington's choice to replace the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, whom the United States considers to be too soft, The Australian said Thursday.

Diplomats and officials in Vienna, where the agency is based, said the United States was lobbying to replace ElBaradei, possibly as early as the end of this month.

Approached about the job last year, Downer said he was uninterested, as he was happy with his position as Australia's foreign minister.