U2 honoured by Portugal

LISBON - Portugal awarded Irish rockers U2 the country's Order of Liberty to honour the band's humanitarian efforts.

President Jorge Sampaio awarded the Dublin four -- lead singer Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. -- the order at the presidential palace a few hours before a concert in Lisbon.

Bono urged Portuguese to help Africa, saying it was unacceptable for children to go hungry and 3,000 a day died from malaria, Lusa news agency reported.

Sampaio said that in the last 25 years the band had "combined the public exposure it received from its musical success with the protection of humanitarian causes".

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

Bono was a major figure in the Live Aid concert for Ethiopian famine relief 20 years ago and has since campaigned for the world's poor. U2 were also involved in last month's Live 8 concert held to pressure rich nations to alleviate poverty.

- REUTERS