Finn Martti Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize

Finland's former president and peace mediator Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

The Nobel selection committee says that Ahtisaari was given the prize in recognition of his efforts to resolve international conflicts particularly in East Timor and the Balkan region in Europe.

Until today, there was speculation that the prize could go to Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng, who were considered as top contenders this year, which marks 60 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Hu Jia is a known democracy and AIDS activist and Gao Zhisheng a human rights lawyer and activist.

On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that China hoped the prize will go to the "right person."

The result will undoubtedly gratify those who complain that the original purpose of the award has become more and more blurred in the last few years.

The Committee seems to have forgotten that "they are awarding a prize for peace. Not for combating climate change, economic injustice, or violations of human rights," Sky News reporter Tim Marshall says in his blog.