LONDON (AP):

He won't be allowed to call himself Sir Ted, but United States (US) Senator Edward Kennedy is being awarded an honorary knighthood from Britain.

The government said yesterday the Massachusetts senator was being recognised for services to US-United Kingdom relations and to Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the honour on Wednesday when he addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington. Knighthoods are bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II but recipients are selected by the government or an advisory committee.

Kennedy, scion of an Irish-American political dynasty, is known in Britain for his involvement in the long process that led to Northern Ireland's 1998 Good Friday peace accord.