Obama invokes Gandhi, King as he receives Nobel Prize

Invoking his 'heroes' Mahatma Gandhi and legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King, US president Barack Obama today received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize vowing to achieve a peaceful world where "war is sometimes necessary".

In his acceptance speech after receiving the Nobel Prize, the first sitting US president to get the coveted prize in 90 years, Obama said, "I know there is nothing weak, nothing passive, nothing naïve in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King."

"But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their (Gandhi and Dr King) examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people," the 48-year-old president said.

The president acknowledged that many people feel he has not done enough to deserve the prize that he received in Oslo. He also noted that he recently ordered another 30,000 US troops to fight in Afghanistan.

People must accept "the hard truth" that violence cannot be eradicated, and nations sometimes must wage war to protect their citizens from evil regime or terrorist groups.

He said a non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies and negotiations cannot persuade al Qaeda's leaders to disarm.