Tony Blair and George Bush have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for waging war on Saddam Hussein, it was announced yesterday.

The Prime Minister and the US President have been put forward by a Norwegian politician who said ousting the dictator had reduced the threat of a war with weapons of mass destruction. It also laid the foundation for the development of democracy in Iraq, he said.

The five-member Norwegian awards committee will announce the winner on December 10.

The move was condemned last night by anti-war campaigners.

Andrew Burgin, of the Stop the War Coalition, said: ''This is completely unbelievable. It shows the stupidity of this peace prize that it is given to people for starting wars rather than stopping them.''

The nominees are also believed to include Pope John Paul II , former Czech President Vaclev Havel, the Salvation Army and the European Union.

Nominations closed yesterday. Although the list is secret, those making the nominations often announce who they have put forward.

Mr Blair and Mr Bush have been nominated several years in a row, this time by Jan Simonsen of the right-wing Party of Progress.

A broad range of people, including members of national governments and legislators and some university professors, can make nominations.

At its meetings, the awards committee quickly cuts out unlikely winners, and then shaves the remaining number down to a short list.

The committee announces its decision in mid-October.