Jimmy Carter wins Peace Prize

Former American president Jimmy Carter has won the Nobel peace prize.

The £1m (€1.5m) prize was awarded for what is described as his untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts.

Mr Carter's also honoured for the way he's tried to advance democracy and human rights.

U2 front man Bono was among the nominations for the prize.

The awards committee said their choice of Carter was a criticism of current US policy and a “kick in the leg” to those following the same line.

Carter welcomed the award, saying the prize “encourages people to think about peace and human rights”.

He said his most significant work has been through the Carter Centre, which he established after his presidency and which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

“When I was at the White House I was a fairly young man and I realised I would have maybe 25 more years of active life,” he said, adding that he decided to “capitalise on the influence I had as the former president of the greatest nation of the world and decided to fill vacuums”.