Afghan rage over Koran burnings, tragedy mounts in Syria, and Russian and Iranian preparations for elections fill this week's gallery of our favorite images.
Photos Of The Week -- February 18-26
1
A demonstrator holds a copy of a scorched Koran, allegedly burned by U.S. soldiers, at the gate of Bagram air base during a protest against Koran desecration at Bagram on February 21. (AFP PHOTO/Massoud HOSSAINI)
2
Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker kisses International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde after a press conference in Brussels to announce a deal on a Greek bailout on February 21. (AFP PHOTO/GEORGES GOBET)
3
Monks gather to pray at the Labrang monastery prior to Tibetan New Year in Gansu Province on February 21. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
4
A man casts his vote during Yemen's one-candidate presidential election at a polling station in the Al-Hasaba neighborhood of Sanaa on February 21. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)
5
Russian Orthodox faithful follow priests carrying the icon of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos of Pochayiv, after the relic's arrival at Kyrgyzstan's Manas airport on February 22. (AFP PHOTO/VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO)
6
Afghan demonstrators shout anti-U.S. slogans during a Koran-burning protest in Herat on February 23. (AFP/Aref Karimi)
7
An Afghan protester kicks the gate to an international army base gate during a protest against Koran desecrations in Kabul on February 22. (AFP PHOTO/SHAH Marai)
8
A Pakistani man grieves after his brother was killed in a car blast on the outskirts of Peshawar on February 23. (AFP PHOTO/A. MAJEED)
9
An Iranian man sweeps electoral leaflets for Iran's upcoming parliamentary elections after Friday Prayers outside Tehran University on February 24.
10
Boys wounded in a car-bomb attack are seen after treatment at a primary school in Mussayab, Iraq, on February 23. (REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammed)
11
An Afghan policeman uses his baton to disperse demonstrators during a Kabul protest on February 24.
12
Supporters of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak shout slogans on February 22 outside the Cairo police academy where his trial is scheduled to take place. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
14
Syrian mourners, one carrying the pre-Ba'ath national flag adopted by the rebel movement, carry the body of a youth reportedly killed in violence in Idlib before his burial on February 23. (AFP PHOTO/BULENT KILIC)
15
German Chancellor Angela Merkel toasts with a glass of beer during a Political Ash Wednesday meeting of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Demmin on February 22. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
16
Afghan demonstrators run as they shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in Kabul against ISAF Koran desecrations. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)
17
An Iranian woman in central Tehran walks past electoral posters for Iran's upcoming parliamentary elections. (REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl)
19
A boy holds mortar shrapnel in a handout picture taken by a Syrian National Council member in Karm Al Zaytoon, a neighborhood of Homs, on February 23. (REUTERS/Moulhem Al-Jundi/Handout)
20
A policeman patrols during clashes with protesters in Kabul on February 24 angry over the burning by ISAF forces of the Koran. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood)