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Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize
(about 1 hour later)
This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been won by peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari, the Nobel Foundation has announced in Norway's capital, Oslo.This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been won by peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari, the Nobel Foundation has announced in Norway's capital, Oslo.
Finland's ex-president has been the UN special envoy for talks on the final status of Kosovo, and mediated a 2005 accord in Indonesia's Aceh province. Finland's ex-president has been a UN mediator on Kosovo, helped end the conflict in Indonesia's Aceh province and aided Namibia's independence.
Mr Ahtisaari told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he was "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award.Mr Ahtisaari told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he was "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award.
The laureate wins a gold medal, diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.42m). The laureate wins a gold medal, diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.4m).
The winners were chosen by a secretive five-member Norwegian awards committee from 197 nominations this year.The winners were chosen by a secretive five-member Norwegian awards committee from 197 nominations this year.
Namibian agreementNamibian agreement
The Nobel committee commended Mr Ahtisaari, 71, "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts".The Nobel committee commended Mr Ahtisaari, 71, "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts".
KEY PEACE ROLES 2007: Secret meetings in Finland on roadmap to peace between Iraqi Sunni and Shia groups2005: Helps end 30 years of fighting between Aceh rebels and the Indonesian government2005: Appointed UN special envoy for talks on the final status of Serbian province of Kosovo2002 onwards: UN special envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa2001: Arms inspector in Northern Ireland conflict1990: Heads UN operation that brings independence to Namibia Profile: Martti Ahtisaari MAJOR PEACE ROLES 2005: Helps end 30 years of fighting between Aceh rebels and the Indonesian government2002 onwards: UN special envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa2001: Arms inspector in Northern Ireland conflict1999: Helps bring end to conflict in Kosovo and in 2005 is appointed UN special envoy for final status talks1990: Heads UN operation that brings independence to Namibia Profile: Martti Ahtisaari class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5466&edition=1">Send us your comments
The citation continued: "He has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," mentioning his roles in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq.The citation continued: "He has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," mentioning his roles in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq.
"He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia and on the Horn of Africa," it said."He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia and on the Horn of Africa," it said.
Mr Ahtisaari told NRK he thought his biggest achievement was in Namibia. The committee's Ole Danbolt Mjoes said: "These efforts have contributed to a more peaceful world and to 'fraternity between nations' in Alfred Nobel's spirit."
Mr Ahtisaari, who served as Finnish president from 1994-2000, told NRK he thought his biggest achievement was in Namibia.
"It was absolutely the most important because it took such a long time," he said."It was absolutely the most important because it took such a long time," he said.
Mr Ahtisaari helped supervise the move to independence from South Africa in the late 70s and supervised framing free and fair elections. Namibia made him an honorary citizen.
Mr Ahtisaari said he hoped the prize money would help finance the organisations he chaired.
KEY RECENT WINNERS 2007: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Al Gore2002: Jimmy Carter2001: UN, Kofi Annan1994: Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin1993: Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk 1991: Aung San Suu Kyi 1990: Mikhail Gorbachev1989: Dalai Lama
"It's very important to be able to act properly, you need financing and you never have enough."
Mr Ahtisaari will receive the prize in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the awards' founder, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.Mr Ahtisaari will receive the prize in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the awards' founder, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.
In keeping with tradition, no candidates were named ahead of Friday's announcement.In keeping with tradition, no candidates were named ahead of Friday's announcement.
But those said to be in the frame included Zimbabwean politician Morgan Tsvangirai and freed French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.But those said to be in the frame included Zimbabwean politician Morgan Tsvangirai and freed French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt.
Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng were also leading contenders, prompting Beijing to issue a veiled warning that the prize should go to the "right person".Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng were also leading contenders, prompting Beijing to issue a veiled warning that the prize should go to the "right person".