Bethlehem - Ma'an - Awarding US President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize is "an absurdity that undermines any meaning or legitimacy of the prize," according to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Obama's win, while he "continues to unreservedly support the occupation, subjugation and aggression against the Palestinian people, is a slap in the face to the people of the world struggling to throw off the chains of US imperialism."

In a statement on Friday, the PFLP also played down the award, itself, noting that there were numerous notorious recipients of the Nobel, including Henry Kissinger and Shimon Peres, "both proud war criminals."

The left-wing faction said that not only did Obama not deserve the prize, his nomination discredited peace efforts. "As he threatens an increased and escalated war and occupation against Afghanistan and Pakistan and continues the murderous occupation of Iraq, he has done absolutely nothing to support peace or justice."

On the contrary, the group added, "all he has done is to foster false illusions through strategic marketing while engaging in the same policies that threaten the people of the world."

While the US president may have a more presentable face to the world than former US President George W Bush, the PFLP added, he represents the same policies and interests. "Obama is not a symbol of peace... he is the symbol of murderous US imperialism."

In just the past week, the group continued, Obama used his influence to demand that the Palestinian Authority postpone consideration of the Goldstone report on war crimes in Gaza before the UN Human Rights Council, and has called for escalating the war on Afghanistan.

"He continues to engage in the same US policies of full economic, military, political and diplomatic support for the Zionist regime, while pushing for the liquidation of the Palestinian cause," the PFLP said. "He has done nothing to remove US nuclear weapons and less than nothing to dislodge the Zionist nuclear threat against the Arab world, while threatening Iran and its people with war."

The statement concluded by saying any prizes for peace should be awarded first to the resistance and people on the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine, confronting "imperialism and its forces."

The PFLP suggested international leaders such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez were more deserving, or other "progressive forces around the world who struggle every day for justice and true peace."