OSLO (AFP) - More than 15,000 people have signed an Internet petition calling for the late pop star Michael Jackson to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.

Started by an American college student, the petition praises Jackson for his commitment to humanitarian causes and calls on the Norwegian Nobel Institute to name the singer as next year's winner.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.

"We the Undersigned, believe Michael Jackson has given of himself completely and selflessly in a lifelong effort to help better global conditions for children, and all of humankind," the petition said.

"Michael Jackson has undoubtedly earned the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize," said the petition posted at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mjnobelpeaceprize.

The Web petition has a stated goal of one million signatures and had more than 15,000 supporters on Tuesday.

But calls for Jackson, who died from a cardiac arrest on June 25, to get next year's prize are bound to fail -- the rules state that Nobel prizes cannot be awarded posthumously.

Secondly, only certain people are eligible to submit nominations, including members of parliament and government worldwide, university professors, previous laureates and members of several international institutes.

The Nobel Committee that awards the prize is also eligible to nominate candidates.

This year, US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are among the 205 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize.

According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Peace Prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

The winner will be announced October 9.