Two Nobel Peace prize winners were among the 60 others arrested by the Washington police for protesting opposite the White House against the US-led war in Iraq, which is entering into the second week now.

The Nobel laureates 1976 winner for peace activism in Northern Ireland Mairead Corrigan Maguire and 1997 winner for works o­n banning land mines Jody Williams were handcuffed and taken away for refusing to leave the protest area.

According to a Reuters report, the duo were detained as they sat in a circle in the park opposite the White House and chanted "Peace, shalom".

"They held roses as well as gruesome posters showing civilian casualties from the war," added the report.