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/europe/6047020.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Nobel for anti-poverty pioneers Nobel for anti-poverty pioneers
(40 minutes later)
Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank have been awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, it has been announced. Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank have been awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Yunus, a Bangladeshi, founded the bank, which is one of the pioneers of micro-credit lending schemes for the poor in Bangladesh. Mr Yunus, an economist, founded the bank, which is one of the pioneers of micro-credit lending schemes for the poor in Bangladesh.
The bank is renowned for lending money to the least well off, especially women, so that they can launch their own businesses. The bank is renowned for lending money to the least well-off, especially women, so that they can launch their own businesses.
The winners will receive a prize of 10m Swedish kronor ($1.07m, £730,000). The winners receive a prize of 10m Swedish kronor ($1.07m, £730,000).
The announcement was made in Oslo by the Nobel committee chairman, Ole Danbolt Mjoes. Mr Yunus, 66, told Norway's NRK public television that he was "delighted, really delighted", AFP news agency reported.
He said Mr Yunus and the Grameen Bank were being honoured "for their work [in] social and democratic development". "You are endorsing a dream to achieve a poverty-free world," he said.
"Sustainable peace cannot be given [unless] large numbers of people have been given the opportunity to get out of poverty. Development such as this is useful in human rights and democracy." Surprise choice
The winners were revealed by the Nobel committee chairman, Ole Danbolt Mjoes, in Oslo.
MUHAMMAD YUNUS Bangladeshi economistFounded concept of micro-creditStarted Grameen Bank in 1976 Text: Peace prize citation Mr Mjoes said Mr Yunus had shown himself to be a leader who had managed to translate visions into practical action for the benefit of millions of people.
He and the bank were being honoured "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below", Mr Mjoes said.
He said the bank's work in creating opportunities for large numbers of people to get out of poverty created the conditions for sustainable peace.
"Development such as this is useful in human rights and democracy."
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says the winners were a complete surprise, as recent Nobel Peace Prize winners have been.The BBC's world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says the winners were a complete surprise, as recent Nobel Peace Prize winners have been.
He says Mr Yunus is seen as someone who has done a great deal in Bangladesh and whose work is a model for other countries to tackle poverty.He says Mr Yunus is seen as someone who has done a great deal in Bangladesh and whose work is a model for other countries to tackle poverty.
Mr Yunus told the BBC he would use the prize money to find more innovative ways of getting poor people into business.
He is expected to pick up the award and prize money during a ceremony in Oslo in December.