Japan's Amano elected head of UN nuclear watchdog

By Mark Heinrich and Sylvia Westall

VIENNA (Reuters) - Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano was elected the next head of the U.N. atomic watchdog on Thursday and he vowed to tackle rich-poor tensions weakening the fight against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Challenges for the holder of the sensitive post include Iran's disputed nuclear programme, blocked investigations into alleged military nuclear activities in Iran and Syria, and North Korea's nuclear tests.

Amano, supported by industrialised nations, narrowly defeated South Africa's Abdul Samad Minty in a sixth round of balloting after five inconclusive votes. It was his second try for the top job at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following an election stalemate in March.

The 62-year-old succeeds Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei who retires in November.

Amano managed to win the required 2/3rds majority of the governing board members who expressed a preference, with 23 votes and one crucial abstention in the 35-nation meeting.

In earlier rounds he had taken 23 votes to Minty's 12 from developing nations, who regarded Amano as a poor communicator and a tool of Western powers.

"Everyone looked a little glum when the result was announced," said one European diplomat in the closed-door session. "There was total silence," said another.

Amano said he would balance IAEA resources between anti-proliferation inspections and fostering the safe use of nuclear energy for economic development and medicine.