This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8405033.stm

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Obama set for Oslo Nobel ceremony Obama set for Oslo Nobel ceremony
(29 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is due to collect his Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo. US President Barack Obama will collect his Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Norway's capital, Oslo, shortly.
The prize was awarded to Mr Obama in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".The prize was awarded to Mr Obama in October for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".
The ceremony comes days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan.The ceremony comes days after Mr Obama announced he was sending 30,000 extra US soldiers to the war in Afghanistan.
US officials said he was aware of the "juxtaposition" and would refer to US wars in his acceptance speech. He signed the Nobel Prize book of previous recipients at the start of the day's events.
President Obama arrived in Oslo with his wife, Michelle, on Thursday morning, but will stay only one day of the three-day event.
Amid high security throughout the city, he will deliver a speech, meet Norway's royal family, watch a procession and dine at a banquet.
However, he will not lunch with the king and queen, nor will he hold a full press conference.
There was a mixed reaction when Mr Obama was named as the winner of the prize for 2009.There was a mixed reaction when Mr Obama 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
Many said it was inappropriate that it could go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Many said it was inappropriate that it could go to the commander-in-chief of a country involved in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US officials said he was aware of the "juxtaposition" of troop plans and the peace prize, and would refer to the wars in his acceptance speech.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama "understands and again will also recognise that he doesn't belong in the same discussion as [Nelson] Mandela and Mother Teresa", previous Nobel Peace Prize winners.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Mr Obama "understands and again will also recognise that he doesn't belong in the same discussion as [Nelson] Mandela and Mother Teresa", previous Nobel Peace Prize winners.
President Obama's Peace Prize award was, if you like, a political endorsement from Europe Gavin Hewitt's Europe
He said Mr Obama would use his acceptance speech to "address directly the notion that many have wondered - which is the juxtaposition of the timing of the Nobel Peace Prize and his commitment to add more troops".
A senior official told Reuters news agency Mr Obama "sees the peace prize as having a long history of recognising the accomplishments of people who have worked to extend peace in various ways".A senior official told Reuters news agency Mr Obama "sees the peace prize as having a long history of recognising the accomplishments of people who have worked to extend peace in various ways".
"He believes that part of the reason he won this award was not simply about him, it's the fact that there's a hunger around the world for constructive American leadership and this is an affirmation of that," said the unnamed official."He believes that part of the reason he won this award was not simply about him, it's the fact that there's a hunger around the world for constructive American leadership and this is an affirmation of that," said the unnamed official.
'Reaching dreams''Reaching dreams'
Security is high in Oslo for the event and anti-war protesters have gathered outside the hotel where the ceremony will take place.Security is high in Oslo for the event and anti-war protesters have gathered outside the hotel where the ceremony will take place.
Jakarta officials said the statue was meant to inspire children Meanwhile, a statue of Barack Obama as a boy was unveiled in Indonesia
"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.
The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics will also be presented, with each laureate receiving a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m:£865,000), which is shared by joint winners. The Nobel Prizes for chemistry, literature, medicine, physics and economics will also be presented, with each laureate receiving a diploma, a medal and 10m Krona ($1.4m; £865,000), which is shared by joint winners.
Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, Indonesia is to unveil a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy. Coinciding with the Nobel ceremony, a statue of Mr Obama as a young boy was unveiled in a park in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
It will stand in a park in the capital, Jakarta, close to where the president lived between 1967 and 1971 and depicts him as a 10-year-old wearing shorts and 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 and with a butterfly on his finger.
Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni said the statue was intended to inspire Indonesian children.Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni said the statue was intended to inspire Indonesian children.
"There is a message through the young Obama statue that any child and anyone from any background can reach their dreams if they fight for it persistently," the Associated Press news agency quoted her as saying."There is a message through the young Obama statue that any child and anyone from any background can reach their dreams if they fight for it persistently," the Associated Press news agency quoted her as saying.