Irish rock star Bono and Pope John Paul are among 166 nominees for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, with relief groups helping victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami among the favourites.
"We have received 166 nominations so far, of which 29 are organisations," the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Geir Lundestad, told Reuters on Thursday. "The geographical scope is wide."
As usual, he declined to name any candidates for the prize, which last year went to Kenya's Wangari Maathai, the head of a tree-planting movement and the first environmentalist to win.
Some names have been made public or leaked privately by people nominating them. Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell was also among them.
But many Nobel watchers believe the 2005 award will go to an individual or a group involved with relief efforts after the devastating December 26 tsunami, such as Save the Children or Oxfam.
Among other aid groups, the International Committee of the Red Cross has won the prize three times, in 1963, 1944 and 1917. Most recently, Medecins Sans Frontieres won in 1999.
The deadline for mailing nominations for the award, named after Swedish dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel, passed on February 1. Those who can make nominations include members of parliaments, former Nobel laureates and some university professors.