Stockholm - United States President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, the Nobel Committee announced.
Obama was awarded the prize for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people," the committee said.
The committee attached "special importance to Obama's vision and work for a world without nuclear weapons," adding that he had created "a new climate in international politics."
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," it said.
Once again Obama has made history. Earlier, he became the first black US president and now winning the prestigious Nobel peace prize.
It was a difficult decision as the committee had received a record 205 names. The committee unanimously reached consensus on Obama's name.
Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari won the award in 2008.
