Obama 'surprised' & 'humbled' by Nobel Peace Prize

US President Barack Obama said he was surprised and humbled by being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and said he doubted he deserved to be honored alongside luminaries who had won the award. Obama's reaction

US President Barack Obama said on Friday he was "surprised" and "humbled" by being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and said he doubted he deserved to be honored alongside luminaries who had won the award.

"I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel committee," Obama said in his first public reaction to the award in remarks in the White House Rose Garden.

"Let me be clear. I do not view it a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."

"To be honest, I do not feel I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize."