Pakistani gov't loses majority as coalition party

    ISLAMABAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani（巴基斯坦） government has lost majority in the parliament as a powerful party in ruling coalition¹ Sunday decided² to sit on opposition³ benches.
    Leaders of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that they will approach the Speaker of the National Assembly（国民大会） and the Chairman of the Senate for allocation of seats on the opposition benches.
    The coalition led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari presently enjoys the support of 181 seats including the MQM's 25 in the 342-member national assembly, the lower house of the parliament.
    The coalition just has nine more than the required 172 seats needed to keep its majority.
    Political analysts⁴ say that the government has now lost majority in the National Assembly and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani is required to seek fresh vote of confidence from the parliament.
    The prime minister was quick to respond to the MQM's decision and dispelled⁵ the impression of any threat to his government.
    "My government would stay," Prime Minister Gilani told reporters in Lahore.
    MQM central leader Haider Abass Rizvi said that the decision was made as the government has "failed to address to the people's problems".
    Two ministers from the MQM had earlier resigned from the federal cabinet, citing the government failure to stop corruption⁶ and check the price hike.
    Another ally Jamait ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) also quit the cabinet（内阁） last month, prompting political crisis in the country.
    President Asif Ali Zardari had personally stepped up efforts to save the ruling coalition from being collapsed⁷ after MQM and JUI-F parted ways with the government.
    On Wednesday President Zardari met a central leader of MQM in Karachi and assured him that all reservations of the coalition partners would be addressed.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 dispelled   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
• The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。