AP PHOTOS: Top pictures from Europe and Africa

LONDON (AP) — On the week when the world celebrated Halloween, pro-Russian rebels came up with a tactic to scare Ukraine’s pro-Western government in Kiev — holding a rebel election in separatist eastern Ukraine. Ukraine and the West denounced the vote as illegitimate.

Pope Francis arrived for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, while over in Madrid a different sort of flock gathered — hundreds of sheep were herded through the Spanish capital in defense of ancient grazing rights.

Riots took place in the West African nation of Burkina Faso in the strongest challenge yet to President Blaise Compaore’s 27-year reign.

Russia put the body of a baby mammoth on display in Moscow, while young boys climbed a good mine slag hill near Johannesburg, South Africa, and a French TV host wore a chocolate-studded dress for a chocolate fair in Paris.

People were still dying of Ebola even as the outbreak appeared to be easing in Liberia. Fighters in the northern Syrian city of Kobani were still fighting off Islamic State extremists with the help of repeated airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition.

In soccer, the world’s most popular sport, the Atalanta goalkeeper saved a penalty kick in Bergamo, Italy; fireworks broke out at a game in Hamburg, Germany; and players vied for the ball in an English Premier League match in Newcastle.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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