U2 - BONO AWARDED LIBERTY MEDAL

U2 frontman BONO has been awarded the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia. The Irish rocker, who became the first non-politician to receive the award in 18 years, was awarded for his continual campaigning to persuade governments to cancel third-world debt. On accepting his award, Bono paid tribute to America. He says, "In the American body politic there's no poetry like the poetry of the Declaration Of Independence and the Constitution. "What I love about America started in Philadelphia. It's the expression of those values that the world needs to see. The America that liberated Omaha Beach, that rebuilt Europe with the Marshall Plan. That put a man on the moon." The award is given annually and recognises leadership in the pursuit of freedom. Past awardees include Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan.