Obama accepts Nobel Prize as "call to action" (Roundup)

By Mike McCarthy Oct 9, 2009, 16:08 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, saying he was 'deeply humbled' by the honour he views as a 'call to action' to solve the world's problems.

'I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee,' Obama said.

The Nobel Committee announced in Oslo earlier Friday that Obama was the recipient of one of the world's most prestigious awards. The committee cited Obama's effort to change the tone of international politics.

Obama, 48, said he was surprised by his selection and questioned whether he deserved to be in the company of widely admired past recipients, but said he would accept it as a symbol to work with other countries to tackled global challenges.

'I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations,' Obama said.

'I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honoured by this prize, men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace,' he added.

Obama is the third sitting US president to win the award, following Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Jimmy Carter won the prize 22 years after leaving office.

'I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century,' he said in the White House Rose Garden.

Obama appeared to address criticism of the committee for handing him the award so early into his presidency, while many of his lofty goals have yet to be accomplished.

'Throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honour specific achievement - it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes,' he said.

Obama also pointed out that the United States is still involved in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that as president he's obligated to protect America's interests.

'Even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today,' he said.

Obama said the world must work together to resolve global warming, pull out of the worst economic crisis in decades and deal with the perils of terrorism and nuclear proliferation. He also listed ending the Middle East conflict.

'I know these challenges can be met, so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone,' he said.