Obama accepts Nobel Peace, says war sometimes justified

US President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday, acknowledging the controversy over the choice of a wartime president and saying he reserved the right to take action to protect the United States. Congratulate Obama | Why Obama got it | Nobel winners '09: In pics | Special

President Barack Obama accepted the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Thursday, acknowledging the controversy over the choice of a wartime president and saying he reserved the right to take action to protect the United States.

HT Image

Obama said the use of force was sometimes justified, especially on humanitarian grounds, and in the case of Al Qaeda, negotiations would not cause them to lay down their arms.

He also called for tough action against countries that broke international laws, such as sanctions that "exact a real price." Iran and North Korea, which are in nuclear stand-offs with the West, could not be allowed to "game the system," he said, referring to tactics employed by both countries in the past to draw out negotiations.