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2007年VOA标准英语-Violence, Delays Precede Nigeria Presidential V

时间:2007-06-01 01:07:36

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(单词翻译)

By Nico Colombant
Abuja
20 April 2007

Violence and delays are marking the hours before Saturday's (today's) presidential vote in Nigeria. Militant1 leaders in the oil-rich but restive2 south are vowing3 to disrupt the process. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Abuja.

Heavy gunfire broke out late Friday in many parts of the capital of Bayelsa state, Yenagoa, including at a hotel where the governor of the state and ruling party vice4 presidential candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, is staying.

His aides say he escaped unharmed and that he was taken to a safe location

Witnesses said a police office, electoral offices and government buildings were also attacked.

Ethnic5 Ijaw militants6 in the state have said they were angry at the alleged7 massive fraud that took place during last week's state elections. They also said many polling centers in ethnic Ijaw areas never opened.

The militants say they are fighting for a more equitable8 share of oil wealth.

Troops guard election office in Lagos, Nigeria
Troops guard election office in Lagos, Nigeria
An election observer with the Abuja-based Center for Democracy and Development, John Ikubaje, says poor preparations and woeful security are endangering the credibility of the vote. "We believe that the security must ensure that the people's vote is well protected. That is what we really want. Without doing that during the presidential election, we believe that at the end of the day, people will just vote and their vote will not count -- and I repeat that again -- their vote will not count," he said.

The opening of the polls has been delayed until ten in the morning, as ballots9 had to be flown from overseas to include a reinstated presidential candidate, controversial Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Some observers said they were worried when the ballots would arrive at remote polling centers.

If voting does take place, the front-runners in a crowded field are the ruling party's candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari.

Information Minister Frank Nweke says Nigeria is doing the best it can in difficult conditions. "The federal government calls on all Nigerians to keep faith with our hard won democracy, and we also want to call on our international friends to ensure that democratic culture evolves in Nigeria, in the same way and manner it evolved in their respective countries through years of practice," he said.

A European Union observer said given the current circumstances it is highly unlikely the poll can be credible10.

Elections are also scheduled for a new parliament. The previous assembly rejected proposals to allow outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third elected term.


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1 militant 8DZxh     
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士
参考例句:
  • Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
  • He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。
2 restive LWQx4     
adj.不安宁的,不安静的
参考例句:
  • The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
  • The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。
3 vowing caf27b27bed50d27c008858260bc9998     
起誓,发誓(vow的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
  • President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。
4 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
5 ethnic jiAz3     
adj.人种的,种族的,异教徒的
参考例句:
  • This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏,这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
  • The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
6 militants 3fa50c1e4338320d8495907fdc5bdbaf     
激进分子,好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来,反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
  • Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此,巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。
7 alleged gzaz3i     
a.被指控的,嫌疑的
参考例句:
  • It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
  • alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
8 equitable JobxJ     
adj.公平的;公正的
参考例句:
  • This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
  • Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。
9 ballots 06ecb554beff6a03babca6234edefde4     
n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 );选举;选票;投票总数v.(使)投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 credible JOAzG     
adj.可信任的,可靠的
参考例句:
  • The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
  • Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法?

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