Friday, February 22, 2008

Pictures of the Week: Feb. 16-22


A Kosovar Albanian woman waves a flag as she and others celebrate Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina, Feb. 17. Kosovo's parliament declared the disputed territory a nation on Sunday, mounting a historic bid to become an "independent and sovereign state" backed by the U.S. and key European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.


Serbian nationalists opposed to Kosovo's independence storm and set alight the United States embassy in Belgrade Feb. 21 after a massive rally in the Serbian capital. Several hundred young men dressed in hooded sports tops and scarfs had broken into the premises on the main boulevard of Kneza Milosa. The embassy was unstaffed at the time of the attack.

This week began with the declaration of Independence by Kosovo, whose population is 90 percent ethnic Albanian. Four days later violent protests by Serbian nationalists erupted, and they attacked the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, chanting "Kosovo is ours!" in anger over U.S. backing of Kosovo independence.
 
These two photos in this week's Pictures of the Week photo gallery immediately convey the two very different emotions felt by these two groups over the recent events.
 
Take a look at all of this week's compelling images from around the world and please be sure to remember to vote on the one you think is best. And if you're interested in following the developments there, keep an eye on our live photo feed gallery from our news wire photo sources, Riots Rock Belgrade.
 
-Lee Van Grack

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

THE BITTERNESS AND HATE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THESE PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE SAME ETHNIC DNA BUT OPPOSING RELIGIOUS DNA IS ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF LIFE AND DEATH THAT TRANSCENDS OUR NEED TO EAT, SLEEP, REPRODUCE AND MAINTAIN SHELTER--IT IS A POSTER FOR INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL CHOICES. WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG? READ THE HISTORY BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE LAST MAN AND WOMAN STANDING...IS RIGHT!