Senior Norwegian diplomat Morten Wetland says a former Norwegian ambassador to the United States was given a verbal lashing by Barack Obama's chief of staff when the president was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
He says Wegger Stroemme was approached by Rahm Emanuel, now Chicago's mayor, who accused Norway of "fawning" to the newly elected U.S. leader.
Wetland told AP on Thursday that he did not witness the dressing down but says there was an air of embarrassment in Washington that Obama had been given the award so early in his presidency. Wetland declined to name his source.
Stroemme, who is a senior Foreign Ministry official in Oslo, did not return calls.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually by a five-member committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.
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