Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize US President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee said he was awarded it for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". There were a record 205 nominations for this year's prize. The laureate - chosen by a five-member committee - wins a gold medal, a diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.4m). [The following excerpt was obtained from the BBC]