The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz called Thursday for Mohamed ElBaradei to be removed as head of the UN nuclear watchdog, saying he had turned a blind eye to Iran's nuclear ambitions. "The policies followed by ElBaradei endanger world peace. His irresponsible attitude of sticking his head in the sand over Iran's nuclear programme should lead to his impeachment," Mofaz told public radio from Washington. Mofaz, who heads "the strategic dialogue" between Israel and its main ally the United States, met on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "ElBaradei says he has no proof regarding Iran's nuclear programme when he has intelligence reports gathered by several countries and he heads an organisation responsible precisely for that," the former chief of staff said.