2002

Former US president Jimmy Carter

At the award ceremony in Oslo, former US president Jimmy Carter warned of the potentially "catastrophic consequences" of a pre-emptive US war on Iraq.

 The BBC's David Shukman reports

Kofi Annan pleaded for tolerance between peoples

The United Nations and its Secretary General, Kofi Annan, were awarded the centenary Nobel Peace Prize for their work towards promoting human rights and defusing global conflicts.

 William Shawcross, author of a book on the UN

John Hume and David Trimble celebrate

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he hoped the accolade would not be premature when he shared the prize with the SDLP leader, John Hume, 'for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.'

 The BBC's Mark Devenport reports

The Israeli and Palestinian politicians

The year of the three-way split, when Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, were awarded the prize for their attempts to bring about peace in the Middle East.

 The BBC's Mike Baker reports

Nelson Mandela recieves the prize

The citation spoke of the 'personal integrity and great political courage' of both men, when the leader of the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela, and South African President FW de Klerk, shared the award.

 The BBC's John Harrison reports

Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest

Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese opposition leader and human rights campaigner, was under house arrest when she received the accolade for her democratic political activities. She was only released in May 2002.

 The BBC's Mike Smartt reports

Lech Walesa stayed away from the ceremony

As a mark of respect for imprisoned trade union members, the founder of the Solidarity trade union, Lech Walesa, stayed in Poland rather than collect his award during the Nobel ceremony.

 The BBC's Tim Sebastian reports

Mother Teresa described her work as a gift

Mother Teresa, leader of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity in India, received the Prize for her work among the poor and sick of Calcutta - work which she described as 'a gift'.

 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Theresa

Andrei Sakharov with his wife, Yelena

Andrei Sakharov was another recipient who was unable to collect his award. The Russian nuclear physicist was a leading human rights campaigner in the Soviet Union. His aim, he said, was to 'try to help those who are suffering because of their beliefs.'

 The BBC's Michael Charlton reports