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The three women who won the Nobel Peace Prize arrive for the ceremony in Norway.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, women's rights activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni campaigner Tawakul Karman were all in attendance.
Opening the ceremony, Thorbjorn Jagland the head of the Nobel selection committee issued a note of warning to oppressive leaders in the Middle East.
SOUNDBITE) (English) THORBJORN JAGLAND, NOBEL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SAYING:
"The leaders in Yemen and in Syria who murder their people to retain their own power should take note of the following: mankind's quest for freedom and human rights will never stop."
The women receive their official prizes.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF, SAYING:
"I am particularly honored to be a successor to the several sons and one daughter of Africa who have stood on this stage -- Chief Albert John Lutuli, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and F.W. D Klerk, Kofi Annan, Anwar Sadat, Wangari Maathai, Mohammed El Baradei as well as as Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Junior and Ralph Bunche -- Americans of African descent."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, LEYMAH GBOWGEE, SAYING:
"There is no time to rest until our work achieves wholeness and balance -- where men and women are considered equal and free. And finally Liberian women, thank you for making our country proud."
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, TAWAKUL KARMAN, SAYING:
"I accept this award on my behalf and on behalf of the Yemeni and Arab revolutionary youth who are leading today's peaceful struggle against tyranny and corruption with moral courage and wisdom."
The laureates, receiving the prize on the 115th anniversary of the death of benefactor Alfred Nobel, will share a total award worth 1.5 million U.S. dollars.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
