PM congratulates Nobel winner Obama

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The Prime Minister sent a private message to the White House following the news that the US President had received the prestigious award.

President Obama received the prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".

The new president was hailed for his willingness to reach out to the Islamic world, his commitment to curtailing the spread of nuclear weapons and his goal of bringing the Israelis and Palestinians into serious, fruitful negotiations.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize 1984, said Mr Obama's award shows great things are expected from him in the coming years.

"In a way, it's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," he said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."

He said the prize is a "wonderful recognition of Mr Obama's effort to reach out to the Arab world after years of hostility".

But Northern Ireland-born Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire criticised the award of the prize to President Obama.

As Mairead Corrigan, Mrs Maguire won the prize in 1976 with fellow Belfast peace campaigner Betty Williams after they mobilised tens of thousands of people on "Peace People" marches demanding an end to the terrorist violence. Mrs Maguire said the Obama award was "very sad" and added: "President Obama has yet to prove that he will move seriously on the Middle East, that he will end the war in Afghanistan and many other issues."

She said: "The Nobel committee is not meeting the conditions of Alfred Nobel's will, because he stipulated that the award is to be given to people who end militarism and war and are for disarmament."