2006年VOA标准英语-African Union to Press Sudan to Allow UN Peacek

By Noel King
Khartoum
05 September 2006

A showdown is brewing¹ between the Sudanese government and the African Union force monitoring the war-torn Darfur region. The African Union Peace and Security Council voted, re-iterated a March 10 vote on Monday, to leave Darfur at the end of this month and transfer its mission to the United Nations.

Sudan has threatened to expel the AU if it continues attempts at a U.N. transfer.

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		Kenyan, Zambian and Rwandan soldiers working in Darfur for AMIS take turns practicing marksman skills, June 24, 2006

An African Union spokesman in Khartoum says Sudan has given the AU one week to clarify whether or not it will remain in Darfur, without the support of the United Nations. The AU is scheduled to meet and discuss its mandate² in Darfur on September 18, long after Sudan's ultimatum³ has expired. 
 
Tuesday, AU spokesman Nourredine Mezni told VOA that the AU has little choice, but to continue talks with the Sudanese government, aimed at persuading Sudan to allow the United Nations into Darfur.

"We are going to continue dialogue with the government and stakeholders," he said.  "There is no alternative to dialogue. We intend to intensify⁴ our contact with the different stakeholders, basically, the government. The consultation⁵ will continue in the coming days."

Menzi says, even if Sudan does not agree to a U.N. transfer, the decision has been made to exit Sudan in late September.
 
The AU mission in Darfur has struggled with funding problems that have crippled its ability to conduct peacekeeping operations in the war-torn region.  The AU's inability to protect Darfuri civilians⁶ has sparked worldwide calls for a U.N. mission to replace the struggling AU
 
Last week, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that proposes sending some 20,000 troops to Darfur.
 
Sudan continues to toe a hard-line stance on the subject of U.N. troops in Darfur.  Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir has spoken out vigorously against the world body.
 
The African Union has voted, three times, to extend its mandate until the end of September and then transfer the force to the United Nations.
 
The Darfur conflict began when rebels attacked government positions, claiming that the remote region remained undeveloped because of government neglect.
 
Sudan is charged with arming militias⁷ to crush the rebellion, using a savage⁸ campaign of rape⁹ and murder, a charge it denies.
 
Some 200,000 people have died and two million others have been displaced in what some Western countries are calling "genocide.".

1 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

2 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

3 ultimatum   

n.最后通牒

参考例句：

• This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
• The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。

4 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

5 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

9 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。