OSLO, Sept 21: The Nobel Committee kept mum on its choice for the Peace Prize after a final meeting on Tuesday to pick a winner, although the International Atomic Energy Agency and its chief Mohamed ElBaradei have been tipped as the most likely winners.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee reached its decision today and that decision will be announced on Oct 8," at 0900 GMT at the Nobel Institute, Geir Lundestad, secretary of the five-member committee, said.

Observers have said they expect the committee this year to hail efforts to halt nuclear arms proliferation, tapping as likely winners the IAEA and its chief ElBaradei.

After playing a vital role in the inspections of Iraq's alleged weapons arsenal and the search for his suspected nuclear programme, the IAEA is currently struggling to get Iran to halt controversial uranium enrichment-related activities and to get to the bottom of North Korea's secretive nuclear programme.

With a record 194 candidates to choose from this year, the Nobel Committee can pick up to three laureates to share the coveted award, which consists of a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (1.3 million dollars). The Committee can also choose to put off its decision and award the prize retroactively next year.

In keeping with tradition, the five Nobel "guardians" will not reveal who they have picked for the Peace Prize until the official announcement of the laureate.

According to Stein Toennesson, head of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), ElBaradei and his UN atomic agency would be the perfect candidates, although he admitted that the uncertain outcome of the ongoing Iran nuclear conflict might hurt their chances.

On Tuesday, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami vowed that his country would push on with its controversial nuclear programme despite an IAEA resolution calling for an immediate halt to its activities.

The Vienna-based body has been attempting to determine if Iran's uranium enrichment is being used for energy or for military purposes. Espen Barth Eide, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, also believes that ElBaradei and the UN atomic agency are likely candidates for the prize.

"The Nobel Committee would be sending a double message to the United States. First, it would be attuned with the US prioritization of the battle against proliferation, but secondly it would remind them that this battle must be carried out using the tool of multilateral cooperation," he said.

Other possible laureates include US Republican senator Richard Lugar and Democratic senator Sam Nunn, who launched a nuclear disarmament initiative, former chief UN weapons inspector in Iraq Hans Blix, and former Czech president Vaclav Havel.

The European Union, Israel's nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, released this year after 18 years in prison, Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya and Pope John Paul II also figure on the short-list of possible winners. -AFP