Algerian daily \"El Khabar\" awarded this year\'s international freedom of the press prize \"Omar Aourtilane\" to Tunisian journalist Sofiane Chourabi. This is \'\'a tribute to this young journalist in a pioneer country of recent democratic changes in the Arab region\'\' said the jury. A special distinction was also awarded to ALgerian journalist Boubakeur Hamidechi \" who devoted his life to the defence of the values of freedom and contributed to the training of a large number of journalists \". The prize-award ceremony will be held next October 3, on the commemoration of the killing of Algerian journalist \"Omar Aourtilane\" on October 3, 1995.