LONDON (Reuters) -

Literary heavyweights Salman Rushdie and Philip Roth were pitched against 13 other writers from around the world when the shortlist was announced for the Man Booker International Prize.

The intriguing shortlist, announced at a press conference in Toronto on Thursday, ranged from Nigerian Chinua Achebe, Irishman John Banville and Britain's Ian McEwan to Australian Peter Carey, Canada's Margaret Atwood and Israeli Amos Oz.

The judges said "We offer a gift to readers all over the world, an opportunity to join a conversation on 15 writers, diverse in nationality, language, themes and techniques but united in their dedication to the power of the word."

In contrast to the annual Booker Prize which is awarded to one particular novel, the International Prize highlights a writer's complete works. The 60,000 pound prize is awarded every two years.