The Observer's 20 photographs of the week

The best photojournalism this week came from the protests in Ukraine and from the Central African Republic where sectarian violence continued. Here, in Kiev, anti-government protesters rest near an open fire as temperatures reach -20C near Independence Square Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

A cross is placed in front of riot policemen at a road block in Kiev. A bill passed by Ukraine's parliament grants amnesty to arrested activists only if protesters leave occupied streets and administrative buildings within a 15-day deadline Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP

In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, a mother holds her child while attempting to take cover as repeated gun shots can be heard during continuing sectarian violence. Human rights officials warned of reprisals against Muslims and urged foreign governments to do more to stop the country being torn apart Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Reuters

Residents of Bangui celebrate after former Seleka rebels were escorted out of Kasai military camp to another camp outside the city Photograph: Issouf Sanogo/AFP

Sarah Adams, a brakewoman in the Great Britain women's bobsleigh squad for the Sochi Winter Olympics, sprints during a baseline evaluation day in Bath, England Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty

Ballet dancers wait to cross the road to join Amnesty International activists outside the Russian Embassy in London. The dancers performed parts of Swan Lake before handing in a petition asking that Russia's President Putin 'end his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia' ahead of the Sochi Winter Olympics Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

In Brussels, an activist from women's rights group Femen screams from behind a glass panel during a demonstration against the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin Photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA

Photographer Muhammed Muheisen took an impressive series of portraits of Afghan refugee children in Islamabad. Here is six-year-old Laiba Hazrat in a slum on the outskirts of the city Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

In another photograph from Islamabad by Muhammed Muheisen, a trained monkey sits next to his owner as they wait for customers in a park Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

At a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, water is poured onto the hand of the body of Thai anti-government protest leader Suthin Tharathin Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP

Plainclothes police arrest a resident as they enforce the demolition of their shanties at Quezon in the Philippines. The demolition was carried out by the city government to pave the way for the commercial development of the area Photograph: Bullit Marquez/AP

Graeme Robertson photographed derelict homes on The Bishops Avenue in London. A third of the mansions on the most expensive stretch of London's 'Billionaires Row' are standing empty, including several huge houses that have fallen into ruin after standing almost completely vacant for a quarter of a century Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

A car sits in the dried and cracked earth of what was the Almaden Reservoir in San Jose, California. The state is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty

Trees are reflected in flood waters on the Somerset Levels. Many villages here have faced weeks of flooding with the village of Muchelney cut off because of flooded roads for almost a month Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

Syrian civilians run for safety following an alleged air strike by Syrian government forces in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nearly 1,900 people have been killed in Syria since peace talks opened in Switzerland on 22 January Photograph: Medo Halab/AFP

In this photograph by Observer 20 regular Bulent Kilic, a Syrian refugee family from Aleppo feed seagulls while crossing the Bosphorus from Uskudar to the European side of Istanbul Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP

Palestinian Bedouin children enjoy a donkey ride around the Gaza Strip Photograph: Ahmed Deeb/Barcroft

An equestrian show choreographed by Bartabas for the 'Nuit de Chine' at the Grand Palais in Paris. This event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Palestinian children play in concrete pipes in Gaza City Photograph: Mohammed Abed/AFP

Health officers wait to cross a road near a wholesale poultry market in Hong Kong after the discovery of the H7N9 bird flu virus in a batch of live chickens from Guangdong Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters