President 'humbled' by peace prize

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At an unscheduled press conference at the White House, Mr Obama joked: "This was not what I expected to wake up to this morning".

He said: "To be honest I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize, that have inspired me and the entire world in their courageous pursuit of peace."

He added: "I do not view it as recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."

The award would be accepted as "a call to action" for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century, he said.

The surprise choice of President Obama drew praise from around the world, though some pointed out he has yet to accomplish many of his goals.

Nobel judges in Norway hailed the President 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: "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the prize embodies the "return of America into the hearts of the people of the world."

However, some said the award came too soon, in light of the lack of tangible progress towards the vital goals of bringing peace to the Middle East, persuading Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions and improving relations with North Korea.