The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement that its 35-member board "will convene a special meeting at the agency's Headquarters starting at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Friday, February 12."

The sole item on the agenda was the election of a new chairman, and Iran would not be discussed, an IAEA spokesman said.

Iran created a new furore this week with the announcement that it would start producing 20 percent enriched uranium at a plant in the central city of Natanz, defying world powers who have warned of new sanctions unless Tehran halts its nuclear drive.

IAEA inspectors are monitoring the process and are expected to report their findings in time for the regular spring board meeting at the beginning of March.

Initially, Malaysian ambassador, Mohd Arshad bin Manzoor Hussain, had been elected board chairman for the current period.

But Kuala Lumpur recalled the envoy in December amid reports he did not vote in line with his government's instructions at an IAEA vote to censure Iran over its nuclear programme.

Malaysia, along with Venezuela and Cuba, voted against the November 27 IAEA resolution which demanded that Iran halt construction of a uranium enrichment site kept secret until recently.

"The voting was not in accordance with the procedures of the government," the Malaysian foreign ministry had said at the time.

Chairmanship of the IAEA board routinely rotates between the different geographical areas, with the so-called South East Asia and Pacific group now holding the seat.

The group comprises Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia and the three countries agreed that Malaysia's new envoy to the IAEA, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, be nominated to replace Arshad as board chairman.

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