VOA常速英语2007年-Beirut Quiet, Prime Minister Says Government As

By Edward Yeranian
Beirut
24 November 2007

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora says his care-taker government will temporarily assume the powers of Lebanon's president, until parliament is able to elect a successor to Emile Lahoud, who left office at midnight. Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Beirut.

Lebanon awoke without a president Saturday, but despite the vacuum, people appeared to be going about business as usual.

The country's pro-Western Prime Minister Fuad Siniora met with Lebanon's Maronite Christian¹ Patriarch and moved to assure the public by insisting that the situation is under control and there is no danger of violence.

He said there is no state of emergency and no need for Lebanese to be concerned about security. He said the army is in full control of the situation on the ground.

He also said that, under the country's constitution, the powers of the presidency² devolve to the Cabinet.

On Friday, within hours of leaving office, outgoing president Emile Lahoud said the country was in a state of emergency.

For months, parliamentarians from rival political blocs³ have failed to reach an agreement on who would replace Mr. Lahoud, a Maronite Christian. On Friday, on the fifth attempt in more than a month, parliament failed again after the Hezbollah-led opposition⁴ boycotted⁵ a parliamentary session.

Parliament is scheduled to meet on November 30 to try once again to elect a president, although many observers doubt it will be able to do so.

Former Army Commander General Michel Aoun, the candidate of the pro-Syrian Hezbollah, continues to insist that he is the only viable⁶ candidate.

Pro-government Christian leader Samir Geagea has disputed the General's claim while insisting that holding the presidential election is the only solution to the current crisis.

He says that continuing Mr. Siniora's government is not a viable solution, even if it is legal according to the constitution.

Former President Lahoud and Hezbollah have repeatedly insisted that Mr. Siniora's government is illegal and unconstitutional, at times threatening to set up a rival government.

Lebanon is without a president for the second time in its history. The first time was in 1988, when the country was torn by two rival governments amid a bloody⁷ conflict that left hundreds dead.

The U.S. State Department is urging Lebanese leaders to elect a new president quickly, but has warned U.S. citizens about the possibility of unrest.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

6 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

7 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。