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| Obama defends war at Nobel award | Obama defends war at Nobel award |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has accepted his Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo. | US President Barack Obama has accepted his Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo. |
| In his acceptance speech, he said his accomplishments were slight compared with some previous laureates. | In his acceptance speech, he said his accomplishments were slight compared with some previous laureates. |
| He defended the US role in Afghanistan, saying sometimes war was necessary, but a just war could lead to a just peace. | He defended the US role in Afghanistan, saying sometimes war was necessary, but a just war could lead to a just peace. |
| Mr Obama was given the prize in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". | Mr Obama was given the prize in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". |
| The ceremony came days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan. | The ceremony came days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan. |
| There was a mixed reaction when he was named as the winner of the prize for 2009. | There was a mixed reaction when he was named as the winner of the prize for 2009. |
| President Obama's Peace Prize award was, if you like, a political endorsement from Europe Gavin Hewitt's Europe Obama tight schedule irks Norway In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize | President Obama's Peace Prize award was, if you like, a political endorsement from Europe Gavin Hewitt's Europe Obama tight schedule irks Norway In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize |
| Critics have said it is inappropriate for the prize to go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Critics have said it is inappropriate for the prize to go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Mr Obama began by saying: "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize... my accomplishments are slight." | Mr Obama began by saying: "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize... my accomplishments are slight." |
| He could not argue with those who said many previous laureates were "far more deserving" of the honour than him, he said. | He could not argue with those who said many previous laureates were "far more deserving" of the honour than him, he said. |
| Defending his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, Mr Obama said: "There will be times when nations - acting individually or in concert - will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified." | Defending his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, Mr Obama said: "There will be times when nations - acting individually or in concert - will find the use of force not only necessary but morally justified." |
| "A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies," he added. "Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms." | "A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies," he added. "Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms." |
| He said the US "must remain a standard bearer in the conduct of war" to differentiate it from "a vicious adversary that abides by no rules". | |
| The Obamas met Norway's King Harald at the Royal Castle in Oslo | The Obamas met Norway's King Harald at the Royal Castle in Oslo |
| This belief had led him to order the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison and reaffirm US commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions, he added. | This belief had led him to order the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison and reaffirm US commitment to abide by the Geneva Conventions, he added. |
| He said he was working with Russia's president to reduce Washington and Moscow's nuclear stockpiles. | He said he was working with Russia's president to reduce Washington and Moscow's nuclear stockpiles. |
| But he said they must also ensure nations like Iran and North Korea did not "game the system". | But he said they must also ensure nations like Iran and North Korea did not "game the system". |
| Amid high security, the US president earlier signed the Nobel Prize book of previous laureates after arriving in Oslo with his wife, Michelle, on Thursday morning. | Amid high security, the US president earlier signed the Nobel Prize book of previous laureates after arriving in Oslo with his wife, Michelle, on Thursday morning. |
| But there has been criticism because he did not have lunch with the king and queen, and is staying in Norway only one day, even though Nobel ceremonies are usually held over three. | But there has been criticism because he did not have lunch with the king and queen, and is staying in Norway only one day, even though Nobel ceremonies are usually held over three. |
| At a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Obama said he and his wife wished they could stay in the country longer. | At a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Mr Obama said he and his wife wished they could stay in the country longer. |
| Anti-war demonstrators have gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony is taking place. | Anti-war demonstrators have gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony is taking place. |
| "We are protesting against him because he is going to have this prize and we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency. | "We are protesting against him because he is going to have this prize and we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency. |
| Indonesia unveils statue of Obama | Indonesia unveils statue of Obama |
| The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics will also be presented in the Swedish capital Stockholm. | The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics will also be presented in the Swedish capital Stockholm. |
| Each laureate receives a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m; £865,000), which is shared by joint winners. | Each laureate receives a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m; £865,000), which is shared by joint winners. |
| Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy was unveiled in a park in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. | Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy was unveiled in a park in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. |
| The park is close to where the president lived between 1967 and 1971 and the statue depicts him as a 10-year-old wearing shorts, with a butterfly on his finger. | The park is close to where the president lived between 1967 and 1971 and the statue depicts him as a 10-year-old wearing shorts, with a butterfly on his finger. |