Benazir Bhutto has been named as the recipient of the 2007 Tipperary International Peace Award.
Ms Bhutto, who was killed on December 27th, was chosen in recognition of her work for democracy and reconciliation in Pakistan, the organisers said in a statement yesterday to coincide with World Day of Peace.
The decision to give the award to Ms Bhutto was made after her death, a spokesman for the Tipperary Peace Convention confirmed.
"Ms Bhutto was an incredibly brave and courageous woman who had returned from exile to her homeland to lead her party in the forthcoming elections.
"She knew the risks involved in her return but she did so because she felt that her country and the Pakistani people needed her," according to the spokesman.
The convention recognised the very difficult path towards peace and democracy in Pakistan and the "ultimate sacrifice" made by Ms Bhutto in pursuing this path, he said.
The award was started in 1984 and previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bob Geldof and Bill Clinton.
The 2007 award of a piece of Waterford Crystal will be made during a peace festival which is due to be held in Tipperary town next April.
