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U2 have been awarded Portugal's highest honour for their humanitarian work.

Hours before the final European date on the 'Vertigo' tour Portugal's president Jorge Sampaio presented the medals in a ceremony at the presidential palace in Lisbon.

Before presenting U2 with their honours, Mr Sampaio said: "Over the last 25 years you have shown that it is possible to combine the pleasure of artistic creation with civic and humanitarian intervention to help build a better world."

The president especially praised the band's efforts to help ease the debt burdens of poor nations.

It is the first time that Portugal has awarded the Order of Liberty to a foreign music group. "It is of course for the four of us a great, great honour," said Bono.