A Norwegian lawmaker has nominated WikiLeaks for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, stating that the secret-spilling website is one of the most important contributors to freedom of speech in the 21st century.
Lawmaker Snorre Valen said that by disclosing information about corruption, human rights abuses and war crimes, WikiLeaks is a "natural contender" for the peace prize.
WikiLeaks, founded by Australian Julian Assange, has released hundreds of thousands of classified documents leaked to the website. The documents have included thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables, as well as confidential material on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Members of parliament from all nations, political science and law professors, and previous winners may all submit nominations to the Nobel Peace Prize.
Assange is currently free on bail in Britain, while he fights extradition to Sweden for questioning on charges of sexual misconduct.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
