Nobel Peace Prize good news for all poor-winner

OSLO, Oct 13 (Reuters) The Bangladeshi banker who won the Nobel Peace Prize today for lending to the poorest of the poor said the award was good news for those living in poverty around the globe.

''This is a fantastic news for all of us, for Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, and all the poor countries and all the poor people all around the world,'' Muhammad Yunus told Norwegian television after news that he and his Grameen Bank were sharing the prize.

He said the Nobel Peace Prize was the pinnacle of recognition after winning several prizes for his work lending to the poor, mainly women.

''This is the last prize. That's what's so special about it ... it's the sky,'' he said.

''We in Grameen Bank have 6.6 million borrowers and 96 percent of the borrowers are women,'' he said.

Yunus said he was looking forward to visiting Oslo to receive the prize on Dec. 10. ''Definitely I'm going to come,'' he said.

REUTERS SP BS1553