Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to be awarded one of the US's highest private honours for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr Blair will be given the Liberty Medal by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Monday.
The award comes as Mr Blair has cancelled promotional events for a new autobiography amid protests by critics of his role in the US-led Iraq war.
Officials with the centre acknowledge Mr Blair is a contentious choice.
The Liberty Medal is to be awarded to Mr Blair on Monday evening by former President Bill Clinton. Mr Blair has already been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the US government.
Mr Blair is currently serving as envoy for the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators, the US, UK, EU and Russia.
BBC News
