Nobel prize a tribute to 'courage' of Tunisian people: Obama

US President Barack Obama congratulated Tunisian civil society groups who helped secure a democratic transition on their Nobel Peace Prize win today, calling it a tribute to the nation's courage.

"Today's award is therefore also a tribute to the perseverance and courage of the Tunisian people who, in the face of political assassinations and terrorist attacks, have come together in a spirit of unity, compromise and tolerance," Obama said in a statement.