'Humbled’ Obama wins award in shock decision

A “HUMBLED” US President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize yesterday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and co-operation rather than unilateralism.

Nobel observers were shocked by the unexpected choice so early in the Obama presidency.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama woke up to the news a little before 6am. The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided not to inform Obama before the announcement because it didn’t want to wake him up, committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said.