Chicago officials said new policing strategies helped in fighting crime

The city ended 2003 with 599 homicides, down from 648 a year earlier, police spokeswoman JoAnn Taylor said.

She said it was the first time since 1967 that the total fell below 600.

But the US third-largest city still topped the urban "murder list", outpacing New York (596 homicides), and last year's leader Los Angeles (499).

Chicago's new police superintendent, Philip J Cline, blamed the continuing homicide problem on the volatile mix of gangs, guns and drugs.

Last year, police seized about 10,000 guns for the second year in a row.

'Progress'

Chicago officials said a new system - the Deployment Operations Center - contributed to an 18% drop in murders in the last six months of 2003 compared with a year earlier.

US CITY HOMICIDES Chicago - 599 (648 - 2002) New York - 596* (584) Los Angeles - 499* (658) (*estimated figures)

They said the system was partly modelled on New York's much praised computerised crime analysis unit.

Chicago police also set up the Targeted Response Unit - a 100-officer force that operates in high-crime areas.

"The mayor is encouraged by the progress we've made," Matt Crowl, chief crime strategist for Mayor Richard Daley, was quoted as saying by the Pantagraph.com.

"And the implications for 2004 are that we'll see continued progress," Mr Crowl said.

New York, with about three times the population of Chicago, finished the year with the unofficial tally of 596 homicides compared with 584 a year earlier.