An Iraqi photographer's picture of two boys wounded in US air strikes was named 2004 Photo of the Year in the first Chinese International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP).

Fares Al-Dlimi's shot of the two young victims, injured on September 25, 2004, by US bombs aimed at suspected militant hideouts in Falluja, was taken as the pair lay head to head inside one of the besieged city's ambulances.

India's Prashant Panjiar, one of the competition's 15 judges said, "The picture is so strong that it can affect viewers emotionally, which truly reflects the cruelty of the war. At the same time, it's beautifully composed."

Judge James Dooley, director of photography for US company Newsday, said that the top three finalists' works all related to the war in Iraq, but the judges felt that Al-Dlimi's image stood apart.

"This one is unique. It shows the innocent victims of the war . . . the blood of the boys reminds people of the horror of the war," he said.

The picture also accurately highlighted the theme of the contest: Peace and development.

The Photojournalists Society of China, one of the event's sponsors, said that the aim of the contest, the first of its kind in the country, is to provide a platform for photojournalists and photographers worldwide to exchange experiences and to exhibit their best work.

The organizing committee received more than 21,000 entries from 1,765 photographers in 76 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and India.

Entries were divided into seven categories: Economic, Scientific and Technical News, Portraits, Daily Life, Arts and Entertainment News, Sports and Nature and Environmental News.

Over the three-day judging process, the jury, which included seven veteran photographers and photography editors from abroad and eight from China, selected 225 award-winning pictures.

Besides the Photo of the Year, the organizing committee awarded 14 gold prizes, 28 silvers and 42 bronzes. The remaining 140 pictures received special recognition for excellence.

Commenting on his home country's performance, Xu said, "We can see that although our Chinese photographers have made huge progress, there is still a long way to go before we catch up with our foreign peers."

(China Daily March 25, 2005)