Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke out against nuclear weapons as he accepted the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday.

ElBaradei is sharing the award with the IAEA, which he has run since December 1997.

"I have no doubt that if we hope to escape self-destruction, then nuclear weapons should have no place in our collective conscience, and no role in our security," he said.

Mohamed ElBaradei (file photo)

ElBaradei and the chairman of the board of governors of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, received gold medals and Nobel diplomas at a ceremony at Oslo City Hall.

They will also share 10 million Swedish kroner ($1.25 million US).

ElBaradei, 63, said he will use the money to support an orphanage in Egypt, his home country.

The IAEA, based in Vienna, has 138 member states. A key role is to investigate suspected violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and, if necessary, refer cases to the United Nations.

On Friday, ElBaradei urged Iran to stop hindering an investigation into the country's nuclear energy program. The United States and other observers have expressed concern that Iran could be using the program as a cover for the development of nuclear weapons.

"The international community has begun to lose its patience," he told reporters in Oslo before Saturday's ceremony.