Cartoon of Naked Sharon Devouring Infant Wins Top U.K. Prize

A cartoon of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon eating the head of a Palestinian baby against the backdrop of a burning Palestinian city has won first prize in the British Political Cartoon Society's annual competition.

There were 35 entries in the Cartoon of the Year competition, sponsored by the British Independent newspaper, from some of the country's leading cartoonists.

Dave Brown's winning cartoon was published in the Independent a few months ago, when it was claimed that it was inspired by a Goya painting.

In the cartoon, Sharon says: "What's wrong? Have you never seen a politician kissing a baby?" The background shows Apache attack helicopters sending missiles from the cockpit with the message "Vote Likud" - the prime minister's party.

In his acceptance speech, Brown thanked the Israeli Embassy for its angry reaction to the cartoon, which he said had contributed greatly to its publicity.