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Obama defends war at Nobel award Obama defends war at Nobel award
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has accepted his Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo. President Barack Obama has said the US must uphold moral standards when waging wars that are necessary and justified, as he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize.
In his acceptance speech, he said his accomplishments were slight compared with some previous laureates. In his speech in Oslo, he defended the US role in Afghanistan, arguing the use of force could bring lasting peace.
He defended the US role in Afghanistan, saying sometimes war was necessary, but a just war could lead to a just peace. He also said his accomplishments were slight compared to previous laureates.
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. Thursday's ceremony in the Norwegian capital 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. 'Far more deserving'
President Obama's Peace Prize award was, if you like, a political endorsement from Europe class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/">Gavin Hewitt's Europe class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8405486.stm">Obama tight schedule irks Norway class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8406026.stm">In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize There was a mixed reaction when he was named as the winner of this year's prize - only the fourth US president in history to be given the honour.
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. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies - negotiations cannot convince al-Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms Barack Obama class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/">Gavin Hewitt's Europe class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8405486.stm">Obama tight schedule irks Norway class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8406026.stm">In pictures: Obama's Nobel Prize
Mr Obama began by saying: "Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize... my accomplishments are slight." Mr Obama's elevation to the rank of fellow laureates such as Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, before he has even spent a year in office, has sparked fierce debate.
Critics also said it was inappropriate for the honour to go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Acknowledging the controversy, 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 Afghan troop deployment, 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."
He said "instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace".
"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."
Protests
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".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 OsloThe 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. While Russia and America worked to reduce their nuclear stockpiles, he said the international community 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". Mr Obama also paid tribute to anti-government demonstrators in Iran, Burma and Zimbabwe, and said the US would always stand on the side of those who sought freedom.
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.
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. There has also been criticism because he did not have lunch with the king and queen, and he 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 longer.
Indonesia unveils statue of Obama
Anti-war demonstrators gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony was held.Anti-war demonstrators gathered outside city hall, where the ceremony was held.
"We are protesting against him because... we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency."We are protesting against him because... we don't think he is a man of peace," one protester, Anna Carraro, told AFP news agency.
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 the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, at a park, near where the president lived between 1967 and 1971.
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.