The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to a Congolese doctor and a Yazidi former captive of Islamic State for their work to highlight and eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad "have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, such war crimes", the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its announcement.

"Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," it added.

Mr Mukwege has treated thousands of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, many of whom were victims of gang rape.

Armed men tried to kill him in 2012, forcing him to temporarily leave the country.

He said the news that he was a co-winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize came while he was at the operating table.

The doctor, who treats rape victims in the central African nation, said he was nearing the end of his second operation of the day when he heard people crying.

Mr Mukwege said: "I can see in the faces of many women how they are happy to be recognised ... this is really so touching."

Ms Murad is one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the IS army.

She managed to escape after three months and chose to speak about her experiences.

In December 2015, she told the UN Security Council how she and thousands of other Yazidi women and girls were abducted, held in captivity and repeatedly raped after the Iraqi area of Sinjar fell to IS militants in August 2014.

At the age of 23, she was named the UN's first goodwill ambassador for the dignity of survivors of human trafficking.

The 2018 prize is worth nine million Swedish kronor (£760,000).

Last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner was the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

The head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said this year's winners were chosen to draw attention to the fact that "women are ... actually used as weapons of war".

Berit Reiss-Andersen said after announcing the prize that both laureates had put their personal security at stake as activists on the issue.

Oyvind Sternersen, a Nobel historian, said: "This is a Nobel bullseye; recognising victims of war has a long history in the peace prize."

A UN spokeswoman said that the awarding of the prize to Mr Mukwege and Ms Murad for their work in combating the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is a "fantastic announcement".

Alessandra Velluci said "this is a cause that is very close to the United Nations and as you know we have a special representative who is also working towards this, and I'm sure that this Nobel Peace Prize will help advance the cause of ending sexual violence as a weapon of conflict".

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government congratulated Mr Mukwege while acknowledging that relations have been strained over the years.

Spokesman Lambert Mende said Mr Mukwege has done "remarkable work" treating victims of sexual violence during years of conflict in the country's east.

Mr Mukwege has in the past criticised the Congolese government and accused its troops of having a culture of sexual violence.

A government spokesman said "we have not always been in agreement" and said Mr Mukwege has had a tendency to "politicise" his humanitarian work but added that "we salute that a compatriot is recognised".

Iraq said Ms Murad is the first Iraqi citizen to win the top international award.

Iraqi state TV interrupted its normal programmes for a special broadcast about Ms Murad's achievement.

It reported that outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had expressed his happiness.