The United States reversed its opposition to UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei, pictured in 2004, and said it was ready to accept a third term for the Egyptian despite past policy disagreements.(AFP/file photo)

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States will support a third term for Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN nuclear watchdog,State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Thursday.

    "We expect that when the vote comes up in the (IAEA) board of governors on this issue we will join the consensus," McCormack said after a meeting between Director General Mohamed ElBaradei ofthe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

    The IAEA board will choose a new leader when it meets at IAEA's headquarters in Vienna next week. ElBaradei is the only candidate for the director general post.

    Prior to ElBaradei's visit to Washington, the Bush administration was reportedly opposed to a new four-year term for ElBaradei, who had run the agency since 1997.

    "With respect to any alleged past disputes, we're looking forward and there is a lot of work to be done," McCormack said.

    "Based on the news reports that I see out there today, the vote,if held today, would have Dr. ElBaradei continuing at the IAEA andwe would join such a consensus."

    ElBaradei, 62, has provoked anger of Washington for questioningUS intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction under former president Saddam Hussein. He is also at odds with Washington over Iran's nuclear issue. Enditem