Soldiers welcome the visit of Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Legazpi City, Albay province, south of Manila December 23, 2009. The cloud covered Mayon volcano is seen in the background. Thousands living near the slopes of the Mayon volcano were forced to evacuate after authorities raised the alert level around the country's most active volcano on Sunday, warning of a possible hazardous eruption within days and extending a "no-go zone" up to 10 kms (6 miles). (Reuters)
Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo returns the salute of military officer Major General Ruperto Pabustan upon arrival in Legazpi City, Albay province, south of Manila December 23, 2009 to monitor the Mayon volcano. (Reuters)
Philippine National Police officers wear face masks to avoid volcanic ash shrouding Guinobatan township near the restive Mayon volcano in Albay peovince, about 500 kilometers southeast of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009. A mild ashfall is being felt in Guinobatan and nearby towns as the country's most active volcano continue to spew ash since last week. (AP)
Soldiers wear Santa Claus hats while distributing toys to children during a gift-giving event at the evacuation centre in San Roque, Albay province, south of Manila December 22, 2009. The Philippines raised the alert level around the country's most active Mayon volcano on Sunday, warning of a possible hazardous eruption within days and extending a "no-go zone" up to 10 kms (6 miles). (Reuters)
A soldier, wearing a Santa Claus hats, distribute rice and canned goods to children evacuees at an evacuation center in Legazpi city, Albay province, about 500 kilometers southeast of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009. Tens of thousands of residents living within the extended 8-kilometer danger zone of Mayon volcano are now housed in evacuation centers following continued signs of restiveness and are most likely to spend Christmas away from their homes. (AP)
A villager, whose belongings are being carried by soldiers, is escorted to a truck after she was forced to evacuate her shanty near the Mayon Volcano in Guinobatan town, Albay province, south of Manila December 24, 2009. The Philippines' most active volcano shot higher ash columns and rumbled louder on Wednesday as authorities warned of a potential hazardous eruption in Mount Mayon anytime. (Reuters)
Afghan national army soldiers lead the way on a foot patrol through the Panjva’i District. This mission is the first the ANA have planned and led with almost no help from their Canadian counterparts.
Canadian Cpl. Duane Gyuricska helps Afghan National Army 1st Sgt. Ghulam Jan figure out what direction to go next after Jan’s equipment breaks. Gyuricska said that he trust his Afghan counterparts and has confidence in their abilities as soldiers.
Diggers from the Australian HQ in Kabul Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Charles Sapi - from Shepparton Vic, now living at Yamanto QLD and Corporal Graham Baxendale - Port Macquarie, now living at Jindalee near Brisbane QLD at the Mahboba's Promise Hope House orphanage in Kabul Afghanistan..
An Afghan flag and an M 249 is seen on an Afghan national police vehicle at a police station at Dwamanda disctrict in Khowst province, Afghanistan, December 23, 2009.
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In this picture taken Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, trains on a weapon at their camp in the Qandil mountains near the Turkish border with northern Iraq. (AP)
In this picture taken Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, train on their weapons at their camp in the Qandil mountains near the Turkish border with northern Iraq. (AP)
An Afghan policewoman takes pictures during a graduation ceremony after eight weeks of training at a police academy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Just about 500 Afghan women work as active duty officers, compared with about 92,500 policemen, most of them in relatively safe areas like Kabul and northern Herat province, according to Interior Ministry figures. The government has a target of 5,000 women serving as officers or civilian police workers by 2014. (AP / Dusan Vranic)
Iraqi soldiers take up positions as they cover their colleagues ahead during a raid operation in Baghdad December 24, 2009. Three militants were arrested including those Saudi and Syrian nationalities and weapon caches were confiscated during the raid operations, Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim Moussawi said. (Reuters)
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Iraqi soldiers stand guard in a house after a raid operation in Baghdad December 24, 2009. Three militants were arrested including those of Saudi and Syrian nationalities and weapon caches were confiscated during the raid operations, Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim Moussawi said. (Reuters)
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Iraqi security personnel patrol the site of bomb attacks in Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, December 24, 2009. At least 10 people, including a local leader, were killed in twin bomb attacks on Thursday south of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. Seventy people were wounded in the attacks at a bus and taxi terminal in central Hilla. (Reuters)
Iraqi Army soldiers stand guard outside a church in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. The archbishop of the southern Shiite-dominated city of Basra, Imad al-Banna, called on Christians "to respect the feelings of Muslims during Ashoura and not hold the public celebrations during Christmas. ... to hold Mass in the church only and not receive guests or show joyful appearances." Christmas is bumping into Shiite Islam's most mournful ceremony this year, forcing Iraqi Christians to keep their celebrations under tighter wraps than usual. (AP)
Iraqi policewomen train on weapons at the police academy in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. (AP)
Iraqi police conduct security operations in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. Police official says 14,000 Iraqi security personnel are being deployed in and around the southern holy city of Karbala during Shiite's most scared religious observance. (AP / Alaa al-Marjani)