US Secretary of State Colin Powell has called the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in a bid to soothe tensions between Washington and the UN agency over Libya, diplomats said here yesterday. âSecretary Powell has called (IAEA chief Mohamed) ElBaradei. They have spoken,â a Western diplomat said.
| "Lookee here, Mohamed: BACK OFF!" |
âEveryone is making an effort to be more civil. It is in everybodyâs interest to ratchet the rhetoric down a notch,â he said. Another source said the conversation between El-Baradei and Powell, which took place this week, was âa constructive discussion with regard to El-Baradeiâs tripâ to Libya. âThey were trying to make sure they understand each otherâs positions.â Tension has arisen between Washington and El-Baradei since IAEA staff began inspecting Libyan nuclear sites last weekend, just eight days after Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi renounced weapons of mass destruction.
| He didn't renounce them to Mohamed, did he? And if he goes back on his word, it's not Mohamed who's going to thump him. Quite the opposite, in fact. |
|