Last Updated on Saturday, 08 October 2011 09:37 Saturday, 08 October 2011 09:21

Written by ghanapolitics.net

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Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee, 39, mobilised women from across Liberia's ethnic and religious divides to call for an end to Liberia's brutal 14-year civil war.

Amid the shells and bullets, they prayed and protested for days on end, demanding that the conflict between former President Charles Taylor and rebel forces stop.

"In 2003, it was very difficult. We had lived with 14 years of conflict. A group of us, women, decided to take action for peace - including picketing, fasting and praying," Ms Gbowee told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

"This [award] is a huge recognition of the struggle of our women."

Mrs Gbowee even suggested the women might go on a sex strike in a bid to bring the warring men to their senses.

"She has done counselling not only in Liberia but also other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo," Bertha Amanor, Mrs Gbowee's personal assistant at WPSN, told the BBC.

Last Updated on Saturday, 08 October 2011 09:36 Saturday, 08 October 2011 09:09

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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 72, known as the "Iron Lady" by her supporters, has been named as one of three joint winners of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

The award comes six years after she became Africa's first elected female head of state following the end of Liberia's 14-year civil war.

It also comes just days before she stands for re-election, despite initially promising she would only seek one term.

While out campaigning, the diminutive grandmother figure is often dwarfed by her party officials and bodyguards but over a political career spanning almost 30 years she has earned her steely nickname.