Middle East Images of the Week

Birds fly over a destroyed minaret of a mosque at the northern town of Ariha, on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria.

Riad Hijab, who was appointed as Prime Minister of Syria in June, defected on August 7th, 2012, to join the opposition.

A view shows the destruction at the site of an explosion inside a Syrian state television building in Damascus August 6, 2012.

A Free Syrian Army soldier holds a weapon as he takes part in a training session on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria.

Iraqi refugees from Syria arrive at the border crossing by the Iraqi town of Qaim

Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Sami Anan performs prayers for the 16 Egyptian soldiers who were killed Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 during an attack at a checkpoint along the Sinai border

A protester wears a chain with many amulets as he joins others in a march towards central Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of people took to the streets of the Thai capital after lawmakers approved a draft political amnesty bill that could allow the return of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

A Palestinian man rides a donkey cart outside the Rafah border crossing between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. Egypt has closed the terminal.

A protester wears a chain with many amulets as he joins others in a march towards central Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of people took to the streets of the Thai capital after lawmakers approved a draft political amnesty bill that could allow the return of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili attends a news conference at the Iranian embassy in Damascus

The medalists in men's 1500m (L-R) Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi with gold (C), Leonel Manzano (L) of U.S. with silver and Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider with bronze

Saudi Arabia's Sarah Attar competes in a women's 800-meter heat. Attar is the first Saudi woman to compete in athletics during the Olympics.

Kamal Bahamdan of Saudi Arabia rides his horse Nobless Des Tess in the equestrian show jumping team competition, in which Saudi received the bronze medal.

Pilgrims pray in the Grand Mosque during the Muslim month of Ramadan in the holy city of Mecca

Mustafa Abdel Jalil (R), Chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC) shakes hands with war-time Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril after handing over power to the national congress in Tripoli August 8, 2012.