He was not thought to be among the frontrunners but Barack Obama has won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The surprise announcement was made by the Nobel Committee in Oslo.

He was praised for what were described as his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.” The Committee’s statement said: “Obama has as president created a new international climate, multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position with emphasis on the role that the UN and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are prefered as instruments for resolving even the most difficult conflicts”. On his first day in office President Obama promised to reach out to US enemies and work to promote world peace. But he is less than nine months into his first term, and has yet to score what could be considered a major foreign policy success. The decision has provoked a mixed reaction on the world stage.More about: Barack Obama, Nobel Prize, USA

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