Norwegian political leader calls for reform of Nobel committee

In a letter to Nobel Committee member Aagot Valle and the Socialist Left Party's parliamentary leader, Baard Vegard Solhjell, Chaudhry said, "I will ask the Nobel Institute to appoint a committee to review the department and the committee's composition and manner of working, and to submit its recommendations on how the committee's independence can be marked better."

Norwegian news agency NTB reported Friday that Chaudhry suggested the Nobel Committee have members from all over the world and work be done with openness and transparency.

In addition to international committee members and greater transparency, Chaudhry also suggested committee members serve a four-year term instead of the current six years and ordinary people be given a chance to nominate candidates for the Peace prize.

Up to now, only parliamentarians, government officials, university professors in certain disciplines, university presidents and directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international policy can make proposals for candidates for the prize, in addition to previous winners of the prize and former members of the Nobel Committee; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

See www.xinhuanet.com/english2010 for full version