The award, named after one of AFP's finest correspondents, recognises journalism by locally hired reporters in Asia operating in risky or difficult conditions.

Nairobi-based AFP photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba was nominated in both the World Press Photo of the Year and the General News - Singles categories for his image of a young man reciting a poem during protests in Sudan.

Smialowski was awarded Third Place in the "Political Portfolio" category and a Award of Excellence in the "Politics: History in Pictures" category for his series of photos on American politics.

Nicolas Asfouri, an AFP photographer based in Beijing, won the Excellence Award in the "General News" category for his photo of a protester in the streets of Hong Kong.

Chiba's picture, taken during the popular uprising in Sudan calling for the return to civilian rule last year, showed the power of youth and art while itself possessing a "poetic" quality, the judges said.

The 34-year-old videographer and photographer, who also worked for other major news organisations in the region, was shot in his car by unknown assailants shortly after leaving his home in Aden. A security source told AFP that the armed men escaped.

Yasuyoshi Chiba’s “Straight Voice”, voted best photo of the year by the World Press Photo jury, shows a man illuminated by the light of mobile phones, reciting a poem in the middle of a group of protesters demanding a civilian regime in Khartoum, in Sudan.

The photo also won first place in the “General News – Singles” category.