The World in Photos This Week

The end of the war in Iraq, more European chaos, and election fraud in Russia.

DECEMBER 16, 2011

U.S. military personnel bow their heads in prayer during a casing ceremony at the former Sather Air Base in Baghdad, marking the official end of the war in Iraq on Dec. 15. The flag of the United States Forces in Iraq was retired at the ceremony to signal the nine-year war's end.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images