Governors of the UN nuclear watchdog failed to agree on a successor to Mohamed ElBaradei on Friday, opening the field to new candidates.

The UN atomic watchdog was to hold a crunch ballot on Friday to elect its new chief, a day after the candidates failed to win a clear lead.

SA and Japan have both set their sights on the top job at the International Atomic Energy Agency, when the current chief Mohamed ElBaradei steps down.

South Africa was not swayed by any major power to vote in favour of a new United Nations Security Council resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend…