The foundation dedicated to the memory of former Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, who was murdered on February 28 1986, wanted to reward Blix for having "under intense pressure, shown proof of independence and principle that have earned the respect of the entire world."

Lisbeth Palme, Olof Palme's widow, presented the prize, a diploma and a check for 50,000 dollars (40,300 euros) to Blix at a ceremony in Stockholm Friday.

Blix, a former Swedish diplomat who was charged with searching for weapons of mass destruction in the 15 weeks leading up to the US-led invasion of Iraq, never hid his skepticism that Iraq actually had such weapons.

He is currently heading up an independent, international commission on weapons of mass destruction, which will work through 2005 on finding ways of limiting the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as on ways of disarming countries that already have such weapons.

WAR.WIRE