Rushdie awarded Best of Booker prize

LONDON, July 10 (UPI) -- Indian author Salman Rushdie's novel "Midnight's Children" has beaten five other former Booker prize winners shortlisted for the Best of the Booker prize.

"Marvelous news -- I'm absolutely delighted and would like to thank all those readers around the world who voted for 'Midnight's Children,'" the BBC quoted the author as saying in a prerecorded message. Rushdie was on a book tour and couldn't attend the London ceremony.

"It's a wonderful alternative to have my real children accepting the prize on behalf of my imaginary children," Rushdie added, referring to his sons, Zafar and Milan, who were at the ceremony.

The other finalists for the public-voted Best of the Bookers prize, culled from the Booker award's 40-year-history, were "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee, "Oscar And Lucinda" by Peter Carey, "The Conservationist" by Nadine Gordimer, "The Siege Of Krishnapur" by J.G. Farrell and "The Ghost Road" by Pat Barker.