非洲—约翰逊瑟里夫即将获胜，韦亚对利比里亚的选票不满

Johnson-Sirleaf Close to Victory; Weah Complains in Liberia Election Count约翰逊瑟里夫即将获胜，韦亚对利比里亚的选票不满

 

With votes counted from more than 90 percent of polling centers, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf has 59 percent of the vote, while Mr. Weah has just below 41 percent.

 

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf says she is ready to begin preparations to form an inclusive government, while her party, the Unity¹ Party, credits her wide lead to solid grass-roots, door to door campaigning.

 

The Harvard-trained economist² could become Africa's first female elected head of state.

 

Even as they announce progressive results, electoral officials are looking into two complaints alleging³ instances of fraud filed by Mr. Weah's party, known as the CDC. Their candidate, the first round first place finisher, but a distant second in this second round, met Thursday with top U.N. and foreign officials in Monrovia to plead his case.

 

They urged him to follow a legal course, and appeal for calm amid his angry supporters, who believe he has been cheated.

 

International observers, like David Carroll from the U.S.-based Carter Center, said there were what he called minor⁴ procedural problems on voting day Tuesday, but nothing major.

 

David Carroll: None of our observers saw any ballot⁵ box stuffing. I can tell you that with certainty. What were basically referencing here are relatively⁶ minor inconsistencies in the application of procedures and other minor irregularities. Now that doesn't rule out the fact that we are aware one party has filed complaints and they may file more but from what we were directly able to observe nothing is that we would describe or conclude as serious irregularities.

 

The chief observer of the European Union delegation⁷, Max van den⁸ Berg agreed and urged Mr. Weah, a former world footballer of the year, to play by the rules.

 

Max van den Berg: We came to a positive conclusion. If CDC has the feeling that in certain places this was not true or they've seen different things, its their full right. We will look into it. Let’s play a fair game. And I would say if you want to win the game it has to be in the field because there you can score in the time available.

 

All complaints must be filed by Friday. If considered, these must be resolved within seven days. If rejected, appeals can be made to Liberia's Supreme⁹ Court.

 

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf has advised her party militants¹⁰ to remain discrete¹¹, not to provoke Mr. Weah's ardent¹² supporters. Nigerian peacekeepers in Monrovia are preventing several hundred of them at his party's headquarters from spilling out onto the streets.

 

Many of them say they are former combatants in Liberia's 14-year civil war and that the election process must be free and fair, or else, they warn, they could turn to violence.

 

Nico Colombant, VOA News, Monrovia.

 

注释：

progressive [prE5^resiv] adj. 前进的，进步的

allege¹³ [E5ledV] vt. 宣称，断言

fraud [frC:d] n. 欺骗，欺诈行为

Monrovia [mEn5rEuviE] n. 蒙罗维亚，利比里亚首都

plead [pli:d] vt. 为……辩护

procedural [prE5si:dVErEl] adj. 程序上的

ballot [5bAlEt] n. 选票

inconsistency [7inkEn5sistEnsi] n. 矛盾

irregularity [i7re^ju5lAriti] n. 不规则，无规律的事情

provoke [prE5vEuk] vt. 激怒，煽动

ardent [5B:dEnt] adj. 热心的，热情的

combatant [5kCmbEtEnt] n. 战士

1 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。

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

5 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

10 militants   

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。

11 discrete   

adj.个别的，分离的，不连续的

参考例句：

• The picture consists of a lot of discrete spots of colour.这幅画由许多不相连的色点组成。
• Most staple fibers are discrete,individual entities.大多数短纤维是不联系的单独实体。

12 ardent   

adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的

参考例句：

• He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
• Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。

13 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。