Helsinki - Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Nobel Peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari are the most admired public personalities in the Nordic country, according to a survey published Thursday.

Last year Halonen also topped the list compiled by the Finnish- language edition of Reader's Digest magazine.

Ahtisaari, who also has served as Finnish president, was in 2008 awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation efforts in various conflicts ranging from Namibia to Aceh in Indonesia.

The Reader's Digest list was based on a TNS Gallup of 1,332 people.

The most admired Finnish man in 2008 was parliament speaker Sauli Niinisto.

Ahtisaari topped another list and was ranked as the most influential Finn in an international perspective according to Ulkopolitiikka, the Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs.

The journal surveyed some 40 Finnish experts including diplomats and foreign correspondents.

On second place was Jorma Ollila, board chairman of mobile telephone giant Nokia and oil group Shell.

Other influential Finns listed included European Union enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, President Halonen and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. (dpa)