U.S. evacuates citizens from Tunisia

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Tuesday that his country is evacuating（疏散,撤出） some of its citizens from Tunisia, which is undergoing a major political change.
    Crowley said that State Undersecretary for Management Pat Kennedy(肯尼迪) has approved the "authorized¹ departure" of dependents of U. S. diplomatic personnel from Tunisia, which means those dependents had the option of departing.
    He said a Tuesday flight from Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, has taken roughly 70 U.S. citizens, including official and private passengers, out of the country.
    The U.S. State Department had previously² issued a travel warning for Tunisia.
    Crowley said the situation on the ground has improved "somewhat " over the last couple of days, but it is still "a very fluid situation."He said this is a period of "significant transition" for Tunisia, and the United States hoped that the interim³ government of Tunisia will take this opportunity to "chart a course for their country that provides for inclusion of all peaceful and democratic forces in the political process through open and fair elections."Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi Monday went on state TV to announce a list of an interim national unity⁴ government, with foreign, interior and defense⁵ ministers to keep their jobs and several opposition⁶ figures to enter the cabinet.
    The formation of the interim government, aimed to satisfy the Tunisians who have been protesting for weeks against soaring prices, unemployment and corruption⁷, appeared to be not big enough a progress for a nation that experienced dramatic change as the 23 years of iron-fisted rule of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ended.
    Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of Tunis on Tuesday to protest against the new-born interim government, demanding the ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally party (RCD) to give up power.
    In order to calm part of the anger, Tunisian interim president Foued Mebazaa and Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi quit the ruling RCD party on Tuesday.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 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。

7 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。