Global leaders congratulated Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan on Friday, calling him the embodiment of the United Nations' mediation efforts in a quickly changing world.

``The Nobel committee could not have made a better choice,'' Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said after Annan and the United Nations were named the winners of the 100th annual peace prize in Oslo, Norway.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder praised Annan's ``farsighted work'' toward reforming and strengthening the United Nations.

``Particularly in the international community's current confrontation with global terrorism, the United Nations takes on added significance,'' Schroeder wrote in a letter to Annan.

President Jacques Chirac said Annan ``has reminded the international community of its duties,'' especially in efforts against the use of land mines and child soldiers.

In his homeland of Ghana, Annan's award was a matter of national pride.

``Annan has done it again. I think he should be crowned a king,'' said Julius Asante, a 46-year-old bus driver who put a photo of Annan beside a miniature Ghanaian flag on his bus dashboard.

Annan, 63, became U.N. secretary-general in 1997. He has been praised for his character, moral leadership and focus on an Africa ravaged by civil war and AIDS.

``The one remarkable thing about him is that he's never lost touch with his roots,'' Ghana's Deputy Foreign Minister Idriss Mustapha said.

Mustapha said the West African nation would hold celebrations and invite Annan home to honor him. ``Ghana is proud to have Annan and I'm sure he is proud to be a Ghanaian. We all in the world should share in the honor.''

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a statement that ``no one and no organization is more deserving of this prestigious award. And no better time for it to be announced, as we struggle to bring to justice those who struck at the heart of the free world just blocks away from the U.N. headquarters in New York.''

In Washington, Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, a longtime critic of the United Nations who only recently made peace with the organization, said, ``I extend my heartiest congratulations to my friend, the distinguished secretary-general, Kofi Annan.''

``It's significant that the secretary-general is being honored at a time when the world is gravely challenged in almost every respect.'' said Helms, of North Carolina.

The peace prize winners were chosen on Sept. 28, 17 days after the terror attacks in the United States, and picked from a field of 136 nominees.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, last year's winner, sent his congratulations to Annan.

``Your dedicated efforts, your eminent achievements in world peace and humanitarian and development projects, and your contributions to the global fight against terrorism were highly praised,'' he said.

One of the winners of the 1994 peace prize, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, said Annan ``is certainly deserving in every way. I think he is a man with a humanitarian approach who is concerned about the poor of the world. I am proud that such a man leads the United Nations.''

President Kufuor Salutes Kofi Annan

President John Agyekum Kufuor has sent a message of congratulation to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. A statement issued in Accra said “we have just received the heart-warming news of your Nobel Peace Prize Award for the year 2001 and as a son of Ghana, you made the whole nation proud with your outstanding performance as Secretary General of the United Nations.”

It said the “Nobel Peace Prize award comes as an appreciation and recognition of your qualities as an eminent statesman and accomplished peacemaker.

The Government and the entire people of Ghana join me in congratulating you on the honour done you and the organization of which you are the worthy head.” The statement wished Mr Annan divine wisdom and strength to carry out the responsibilities in the years ahead adding, “please do accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.”

Rawlings Congratulates Kofi Annan For Winning Nobel Peace Award

Former President Jerry Rawlings has congratulated UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan for winning this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, noting that the Ghanaian born diplomat deserved the award.

Flight Lieutenant Rawlings whose government alongside others supported Mr Annan’s successful bid to become the UN boss said, he has not only proved the collective judgement of his supporters right, but also made Ghana proud. He noted that Mr Annan has put Africa and Ghana on a high pedestal in global affairs.

Ex-President Rawlings told the Ghana News Agency that Mr Annan earned the respect of the world because he demonstrated a high sense of political judgement and a grasp on global issues through appropriate reactions to the issue.

Mr Annan who shares the Nobel Peace Award with the United Nations is the sixth black person to win the award since its inception about 100 years ago.