Amidst a street of the southern suburb of Beirut devastated by Israeli bombings, a group of well-off young Lebanese, drive through and look at the damages. The picture, with its indecent and bothering side, offered its author Spencer Platt, the first prize of the World Press Photo Award 2006 (current events) on February 9th in Amsterdam. American photographer of Getty Images Agency, Spencer Platt took the picture on August 15th, the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah when thousands of Lebanese started returning to the city they left during the bombings.

Spencer Platt will receive his award and a cash prize of Euros 10 000 at the awards ceremony that will take place on April 22nd in Amsterdam.

This year, 4 460 professional photographers from 124 countries presented 78 083 images, examined by the jury from January 27th till February 8th. The jury gave prizes to 58 photographers of 23 nationalities in 10 theme categories (Current Events, People, Daily Life, Portraits, Arts and Spectacles...)

Created in 1955 by the union of Dutch photo-journalists (NVF) who wished to give an international dimension to its yearly contest, the World Press Photo has rewarded so far pictures that have become known all over the world and that represent our century: let us remember in particular the photo taken by Nick Ut (for Associated Press), representing a little naked napalm burnt girl running on a Vietnamese road, which won this first prize of the World Press Photo in 1972.

The ranking of 2006 is available on the site of the World Press Photo