WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday congratulated the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its chief Mohamed ElBaradei on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

    "I congratulate the International Atomic Energy Agency and its director general, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, on being awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize," Rice said in a statement.

    While declaring that the award is a "well-deserved honor" for the IAEA, Rice said: "The United States is committed to working with the IAEA to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons technology."

    The Nobel Committee on Friday awarded its Peace Prize to the UN nuclear watchdog and its Egyptian head Mohamed ElBaradei for their efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.

    The IAEA and its chief were honored "for their efforts to ... ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way," the committee said in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Enditem