He may only be nine months into his first term, but President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," said the Nobel committee in a statement.

"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population," the statement further read.

The president was chosen over 204 others for the prestigious award and was woken up at dawn by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs who called to give him the news.

"The president was humbled to be selected by the committee," said a senior White House staff member. (Reuters)

More News: David Letterman's wife demanded a public apology ...

Photo Source