NATO Resumes Airstrikes on Libyan Capital

     NATO has resumed airstrikes on the Libyan capital after a brief layoff¹, hitting several targets late Tuesday.

    Witnesses say they heard loud explosions(爆炸) in the center of Tripoli and saw plumes² of smoke.

    Libyan state media say the bombings hit civilian³ sites, and there were reports of casualties.

    The Libyan capital and its surrounding areas have been the target of regular NATO airstrikes since the alliance started its military operation in Libya in March.  Libyan rebels are trying to advance on Tripoli, as the coalition⁴ carries out attacks on forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

    In recent days, rebels have advanced from the port city of Misrata toward Tripoli, breaking a government siege.  Several rebel units have pushed the front lines west from Misrata to the outskirts⁵ of Zlitan, a neighboring town held by Gadhafi's forces.

    Also Tuesday, Libyan rebels said forces loyal to Gadhafi fired rockets at opposition⁶ fighters near the Tunisian border.

    Libya fired rockets into Tunisia on May 17, and the Tunisian government threatened to report its neighbor to the U.N. Security Council for "enemy" actions.  Libyan forces also have engaged in periodic short skirmishes with Tunisian troops after Libya's internal fighting spread across the border.

    In other news, Libyan rebels scored a victory on the political front when Canada announced Tuesday it will recognize the Transitional National Council as the "legitimate⁷ representative" of the Libyan people.

    Canada joins Germany, France, Italy, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in recognizing the opposition council.  The Obama administration is supporting the rebel cause but has stopped short of recognition.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 layoff   

n.临时解雇，操作停止，活动停止期间，失业期

参考例句：

• Finally, prepare an explanation about what led to your layoff.最后，要准备好一套说辞来解释你被解雇的原因。
• Workers were re-employed after the layoff.在暂时解雇不久后工人们又被再度雇用了。

2 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 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。

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

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 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。