The first and second rounds of voting in the election of the UN atomic watchdog's new chief were inconclusive, with neither of the two candidates winning the required two-thirds majority, diplomats said on Thursday.
In the first informal secret ballot today morning, front-runner Japanese ambassador Yukiya Amano won 21 votes, and rival candidate Abdul Samad Minty of South Africa won 14 votes.
There were no abstentions, a diplomat who attended the closed-door session told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. In the second round, 61-year-old Amano won 20 votes and 69-year-old Minty won 15 votes, the diplomat said.
The 35-member board was now scheduled to hold a third round. In order to win, a candidate would have to secure at least 24 votes from a total 35 on the board.