Iranian lawmaker questions Obama's qualifications for Nobel Peace Prize

TEHRAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian lawmaker questioned on Monday the qualifications of the U.S. President Barack Obama, for winning the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

Gholamreza Karami said that if the U.S. President has won the prize for his change slogan, then it should be noted that he has, thus far, shown no specific practical change in his country's foreign policy to deserve becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Before being elected as the U.S. president, Obama spoke of closing Guantanamo prison and a full withdrawal of his country's forces from Iraq, but neither one has yet been implemented, Karami was quoted as saying.

On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Obama for his efforts to improve international diplomacy and boost cooperation between people, citing his push for nuclear disarmament and his attempts to resolve the deadlock world issues, especially the Middle East peace process.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has called the decision "hasty" and "premature" but has expressed hope that the move "helps promote peace and harmony in war-ridden countries."