Elbaradei, who is on a three-day visit to India at a time when controversy over the Indo-US nuclear deal poses a major threat to the survival of the United Progressive Alliance government, praised India for its assistance to the Vienna-based international body in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The IAEA chief, whose visit is under intense scrutiny of the Left parties, made these remarks after inaugurating the advanced computerised technobalt machine for cancer treatment at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai.

Image: International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammed ElBaradei attending a function at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Reportage: Agencies | Photographs: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images