Ahern praises Blair as they share award

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern paid an extraordinary personal tribute to British Prime Minister Tony Blair as both were awarded a major international peace prize yesterday.

The two leaders were recipients of the Thomas J Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights, worth $75,000.

Mr Ahern and British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott standing in for Mr Blair were presented the prize at a ceremony at the University of Connecticut yesterday.