Mr John Hume and Mr David Trimble have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in the Northern Ireland peace process. The SDLP leader and the Ulster Unionist Party leader were nominated for the honour by Mr Jens-Peter Bonde, the Danish leader of the European Parliament's right-wing Europe of Nations group. (His group opposes EU membership in its present form.)
"As the leaders of the two largest parties in Northern Ireland, unionist and nationalist, the role of Mr Trimble and Mr Hume in bringing about the Good Friday agreement should be recognised internationally," Mr Bonde said in a statement yesterday.
Last night Mr Hume said: "The only prize I want is peace."
The British Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman, Mr Andrew Mackay, stressed it was still early days in the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
He was happy, however, to acknowledge the positive role played by the two nominees.
Mr Mackay said it was too early to be handing out accolades such as the Nobel Prize, but he added: "I think that both David Trimble and John Hume made a considerable contribution to the agreement which was reached on Good Friday.
"I hope and pray that the agreement will stand the test of time. If it does, I think they are extremely worthy candidates."
Mr Hume's fellow MEPs in the Socialist group of the European Parliament are also expected to nominate him for the Nobel prize - for the second time in two years.
The last nomination for the honour failed.