The weekend in pictures

Tulle, France: Members of the press watch President François Hollande through the window of a cafe after he cast his ballot in the first round of mayoral elections. Photograph: Regis Duvignau/Reuters

Kabul, Afghanistan: Rain dissolves the ink on an image of Afghan journalist Sardar Ahmad during his funeral. Ahmad, AFP's senior reporter, his wife and two of their children were killed in a Taliban attack on the Serena hotel. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

Kiev, Ukraine: Protesters sing the national anthem during a rally in Independence Square. Photograph: Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images

Beijing, China: A security guard watches a press briefing given by Malaysian authorities on the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Photograph: Jason Lee/ Reuters

Gaza City: Hamas supporters attend rally marking the 10th anniversary of the assassination of its spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Photograph: Suhaib Salem/ Reuters

Shenyang, China: Xia, a market trader and lookalike of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, smokes a cigarette at his barbecue food stall. Photograph: Sheng Li/ Reuters

Caracas, Venezuela: Anti-government protesters kiss during a pause in clashes with police. Photograph: Christian Veron/ Reuters

Subang, Malaysia: The crew of a Japanese patrol plane wave as they leave for Australia to join a search and rescue operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 over the southern Indian Ocean. Photograph: Lai Seng Sin/AP

Madrid, Spain: Demonstrators take part in a protest against government austerity measures. Photograph: Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images

Gjakova, Kosovo: Sufi dervishes pierce themselves as they take part in a ceremony to celebrate Nowruz. Photograph: Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty Images

Belbek, Crimea: Ukrainian soldiers stand watch as Russian troops take over their airbase by force. Photograph: Jakubi Kaminski/ Epa