WikiLeaks gets a Nobel nomination

OSLO, Norway, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- WikiLeaks has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a Norwegian lawmaker who cites the Internet whistle-blower's contributions to the world.

The Register, a London-based online tech publication, said WikiLeaks was nominated by Snorre Valen, a 26-year-old musician, communications assistant and journalist elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 2009.

Valen, a vocal supporter of the Web site, drew comparisons between WikiLeaks and last year's winner, incarcerated Chinese writer and human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, who he lauded for working to improve human rights, democracy and freedom of speech in China, The Register said.

"WikiLeaks [has] contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture -- sometimes even conducted by allies of Norway," Valen said.

Valen's nomination did not mention Julian Assange, WikiLeaks' founder, an Australian who now under house arrest in England fighting extradition to Sweden to face sex charges he denies.