Party representatives announced the agreement April 10 in Belfast

• Their work not over
• Adams: Sinn Fein deserves credit
• Blair, Ahern, Clinton praise choice
• Related stories and sites

LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- Two political rivals with the common goal of ending decades of religious-inspired violence in Northern Ireland won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday but said the honor is not for them as individuals. The award is shared by the leaders of Northern Ireland's two main political parties -- John Hume, a Catholic, and David Trimble, a Protestant.

Controversial Irish republican leader Gerry Adams, another key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, said he was not disappointed at being left out. ( 230 K/21 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

In announcing the prize in Oslo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee cited efforts by Hume and Trimble in bringing about a peace agreement signed last April aimed at settling "the national religious and social conflict in Northern Ireland that has cost over 3,500 people their lives"

The two men have a frosty personal relationship. Hume, 61, heads Northern Ireland's predominantly Roman Catholic Social Democratic and Labour Party. Trimble, 54, is the leader of the Ulster Unionist party.

Hume and Trimble will split the prize, worth $963,000 based on the current value of the Swedish currency. The prizes will be presented on December 10 in Oslo.

Their work not over

Hume said the decision to honor him and Trimble meant international approval of their ongoing efforts in the British province. "I see this award as a very powerful endorsement of the peace process ... because it underlines massive international goodwill towards it," Hume said in his home city of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. ( 244 K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Indicating their work was far from over, Trimble said he hoped the honor was not premature. "We cannot say with absolute certainty in Northern Ireland today that there is real peace," he said.

"I hope we can actually bring about fairly soon a situation in Northern Ireland where everybody, even those who, at the moment, are skeptical of the process, can feel safe and confident," Trimble told reporters in Denver, Colorado.

INTERACTIVE:
Just who are all the Nobel winners? Read our interactive who's who.
ALSO:
John Hume, Northern Irish crusader for peace David Trimble, N.Irish Protestant peacemaker
RELATED VIDEO
For almost 30 years, trouble has plagued Northern Ireland. CNN's Many Kibel reports.
Windows Media	28K	56K
RELATED AUDIO
"I hope this award ... will have the effect of accelerating the (peace) process," said Adams in New York on Friday 361K/32 sec. AIFF or WAV sound
ALSO:
"John Hume has throughout been the clearest and most consistent of Northern Ireland's political leaders in his work for a peaceful solution." -- Nobel Peace Prize citation "As the leader of the traditionally predominant party in Northern Ireland, David Trimble showed great political courage when, at a critical stage in the process, he advocated solutions which led to the peace agreement." -- Nobel Peace Prize citation

Trimble is in the United States as part of an 11-city North American tour aimed at promoting investment in Northern Ireland.

Both men said their Nobel Peace Prize should not be regarded as an award for them as individuals. "Don't personalize it," Trimble said, adding that his fellow party members and the people of Northern Ireland shared in the honor.

Hume agreed. "This isn't just an award to David Trimble and myself," he said. "It's an award to all the people of Northern Ireland and to all the parties that have participated in the peace process and to both governments."

Adams: Sinn Fein deserves credit

In the days leading up to prize, the Norwegian news media largely assumed that any award promoting peace in Northern Ireland would also include Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army.

The IRA is a militant Catholic group that seeks the end of British rule in Northern Ireland and wants the British province united with the Republic of Ireland.

Asked if Adams was excluded because of the IRA's terrorist history, Nobel Committee Chairman Francis Sejersted said many others had contributed to the process but Hume and Trimble had been foremost.

"British, Irish and American leaders have also made considerable contributions," Sejersted said in Oslo, "but we have chosen to honor the two who have been most instrumental, on both the Protestant and Catholic side of the conflict."

In New York, Adams said Sinn Fein was committed to peace and had made as large a contribution to the peace agreement as other parties. "I think I have worked as hard," Adams said. "We have all worked hard. The recognition that Sinn Fein has worked as hard comes from our having increased our vote in the last election."

But later, Adams lauded Trimble and Hume, praising the honor given to them as "one for all of Ireland" and saying he was not disappointed not to be included.

Key Players • John Hume • David Trimble • Who's Who Interactive History • Timeline: Chronicle of Conflict • Map: "The Troubles" The Deal • The referendum in detail • After the referendum, what? Analysis • Chances for peace? An expert's view Message Board • Does peace have a chance?

"Today, I am delighted that the Nobel prize has gone to Ireland," Adams said at a World Affairs Council luncheon in downtown Philadelphia. "I hope today's announcement will act as a catalyst to the next part of the peace process."

Adams, who is on a week-long U.S. tour for Sinn Fein, disagreed with Trimble's caution that the honor might be premature.

"The only question at this time about the process moving ahead comes from the Ulster Unionist Party. It's entirely within Trimble's gift as a leader of his party to ensure that this is not premature," he said.

The name Ulster is often used synonymously with Northern Ireland. The word unionists refers to pro-British Protestants in Northern Ireland who wish to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Blair, Ahern, Clinton praise choice

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern, both mentioned a possible winners of this year's peace prize, immediately praised the decision.

"There could be no more worthy winners of the Nobel Peace Prize than David Trimble and John Hume," said Blair in London. "This is a recognition of their courage and their qualities of leadership."

Ahern called it "a deserved tribute to two of the principal architects" of the peace agreement.

In Washington, President Clinton praised the selection of Hume and Trimble but said others, including Adams, deserved equal credit. Just last month, Clinton said he hoped his own envoy to the arduous spring peace talks, former Sen. George Mitchell, would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

For his part, Mitchell said the winners were "fully deserving of this honor."

Friday's Nobel Prize announcement was the second time the committee sought to encourage peace in Northern Ireland.

The 1976 prize went to Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan of Northern Ireland for their peace efforts in founding the International Peace People group, which later fizzled.

"We did hope it would have more of an effect than it did," said Sejersted. But he said that illustrated what a long and complicated process seeking peace in Northern Ireland has been.

Sejersted said the committee knows that there is a risk of setbacks and renewed violence even after the Belfast peace accords were signed in April.

But "it indicates that the process is going in on the right track, and that there is reason for optimism," the chairman said. "We wanted to give it a push."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

"The Disease Fighters: The Nobel Prize in Medicine" by Nathan Aaseng "Peacemakers: Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize" by Ann T. Keene "Genius Talk: Conversations with Nobel Scientists and Other Luminaries" by Denis Brian "Lives of the Laureates: Thirteen Nobel Economists" by William Breit,Roger W. Spencer Click here for additional reading on Nobel Prizes