2010 - year in photos

Georgia - A woman holds a girl with South Ossetian flag during the Independence Day celebration in South Ossetia's main city of Tskhinvali, 20Sep2010 - A woman holds a girl with South Ossetian flag during the Independence Day celebration in South Ossetia's main city of Tskhinvali, September 20, 2010. The Georgian break away region of South Ossetia celebrated on Monday the 20th anniversary of declaring itself independent from Georgia. REUTERS/Kazbeg Basayev (GEORGIA - Tags: POLITICS) potw38 10poty

5 Georgia - A woman holds a girl with South Ossetian flag during the Independence Day celebration in South Ossetia's main city of Tskhinvali, 20Sep2010 - A woman holds a girl with South Ossetian flag during the Independence Day celebration in South Ossetia's main city of Tskhinvali, September 20, 2010. The Georgian break away region of South Ossetia celebrated on Monday the 20th anniversary of declaring itself independent from Georgia. REUTERS/Kazbeg Basayev (GEORGIA - Tags: POLITICS) potw38 10poty

Kyrgyzstan - Roza Otunbaeva stands during her inauguration in Bishkek, 03Jul2010 - KYRGYZSTAN, Bishkek (Ex Frunze) : Roza Otunbaeva stands during her inauguration in Bishkek on July 3, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's provisional leader Roza Otunbayeva has been sworn in as the new president, ushering in what the Central Asian nation's government hopes will be a new era of stability and democratic freedoms. Otunbayeva's first steps are likely to be watched closely by both Russia and the United States, each of which maintains military bases in the strategically-located country. AFP PHOTO / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO 10poty

6 Kyrgyzstan - Roza Otunbaeva stands during her inauguration in Bishkek, 03Jul2010 - KYRGYZSTAN, Bishkek (Ex Frunze) : Roza Otunbaeva stands during her inauguration in Bishkek on July 3, 2010. Kyrgyzstan's provisional leader Roza Otunbayeva has been sworn in as the new president, ushering in what the Central Asian nation's government hopes will be a new era of stability and democratic freedoms. Otunbayeva's first steps are likely to be watched closely by both Russia and the United States, each of which maintains military bases in the strategically-located country. AFP PHOTO / VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO 10poty

U.S. -- Residents turn out to vote in mid-term elections at a polling place inside a luxury car dealer in Beverly Hills, California, 02Nov2010 - United States--, Beverly Hill : Residents turn out to vote in mid-term elections at a polling place inside a luxury car dealer in Beverly Hills, California, on November 2, 2010. The nation's mood was dark as Democrats rallied desperately to defend President and angry Republicans hoped to deliver a crippling rebuke. AFP PHOTO Mark RALSTON 10POTY

7 U.S. -- Residents turn out to vote in mid-term elections at a polling place inside a luxury car dealer in Beverly Hills, California, 02Nov2010 - United States--, Beverly Hill : Residents turn out to vote in mid-term elections at a polling place inside a luxury car dealer in Beverly Hills, California, on November 2, 2010. The nation's mood was dark as Democrats rallied desperately to defend President and angry Republicans hoped to deliver a crippling rebuke. AFP PHOTO Mark RALSTON 10POTY

Chechnya -- A security officer stands guard inside the parliament building in Grozny, 19Oct2010 - A security officer stands guard inside the parliament building in Grozny October 19, 2010. Islamist rebels killed at least four people on Tuesday as they tried to seize Chechnya's parliament in a brazen suicide attack that showed Russia has failed to quell insurgency on its southern flank. REUTERS/Kazbek Basayev (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST 10poty

8 Chechnya -- A security officer stands guard inside the parliament building in Grozny, 19Oct2010 - A security officer stands guard inside the parliament building in Grozny October 19, 2010. Islamist rebels killed at least four people on Tuesday as they tried to seize Chechnya's parliament in a brazen suicide attack that showed Russia has failed to quell insurgency on its southern flank. REUTERS/Kazbek Basayev (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST 10poty