Ell and Nikki of Azerbaijan pose with their background singers and Eurovision Song Contest trophy during a news conference in Duesseldorf May 15, 2011. Azerbaijan's Ell and Nikki won the annual Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with the love song "Running Scared", watched by a television audience of more than 100 million people - Reuters Photo

DUESSELDORF, Germany: Azerbaijan won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, taking top honours with a love song in the annual competition of 43 countries that was watched by an audience of more than 100 million people.

Eldar Gasimov and Niga Jamal, known as Ell/Nikki, won with their duet “Running Scared”. Italy finished in second place while Sweden was third in the 56th annual edition of the contest that is famous for light entertainment and heavy-duty kitsch.

It was broadcast live from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caspian Sea.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been a launching pad for international careers. Swedish pop group Abba became famous after winning in 1974 with “Waterloo” and Canada's Celine Dion took top honours in 1988 while competing for Switzerland.