Norwegian politician nominates Bob Geldof for Nobel Peace Prize

Jul 7, 2005, 16:10 GMT

Oslo - Bob Geldof, who helped mastermind the recent Live 8 concerts that promoted debt relief for poor countries, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, a Norwegian politician said Thursday.

Jan Simonsen, an independent member of parliament, said he had nominated the 53-year-old Geldof for the 2006 award, saying that a rock musician should be awarded in recognition of "rock music's transcending nature".

The Live 8 concerts at the weekend were timed to take place before leaders of the world's eight richest industrial nations, known as the Group of Eight (G8), began talks Wednesday in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Irish-born Geldof was knighted in 1985 after organizing the Live Aid concerts, a predecessor to the Live 8 rock and pop concerts.

Ole D. Mjos, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, declined over the weekend to comment if Geldof or Bono of rock group U2 had been nominated for this year's award.

"I know that Bob Geldof has been nominated previously, and believe Bono has also been nominated. But I cannot say anything about this year's prize," Mjos told Oslo daily Dagbladet.

Parliamentarians are among those allowed to nominate candidates for the prize. The Nobel committee recommends that the names of nominees should not be publicized.

The deadline for nominations for the 2005 award was February 1.