VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistan's Musharraf Sworn In as Civilian Presi

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
29 November 2007

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been sworn in for a second five-year term, a day after he kept his promise to step down as army chief. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, addressing the nation in a televised speech later in the evening, Mr. Musharraf said he "fully¹ intends" to lift emergency rule on December 16 and restore Pakistan's constitution before January elections.

Politicians, top military leaders, and diplomats² were guests at the swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the presidential palace in Islamabad.

Mr. Musharraf repeated the oath administered by Abdul Hameed Dogar, the Supreme³ Court chief justice he hand-picked after imposing⁴ emergency rule November 3.

"I, Pervez Musharraf, do solemnly swear that I am a Muslim, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," he affirmed.

Mr. Musharraf won re-election in October, but political opponents rejected his victory, saying the constitution does not permit a serving army officer to hold public office.

On Wednesday, he kept his promise to resign from the military before being sworn in. But there was new violence in the city of Lahore Wednesday as police clashed with lawyers protesting Mr. Musharraf's rule.

Lawyers have been in the forefront of protests against the emergency decree, spurred by Mr. Musharraf's suspension of the constitution and his removal of Supreme Court judges he felt were hostile to his re-election. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was among those removed.

In a speech after taking the oath of office, the president defended his actions.

"It is most unfortunate that some elements of the judiciary, the ex-chief justice, were trying to derail the democratic transition, with all my noble intentions of following the constitution [and] removing my uniform," he said.

Opposition⁵ political parties, including those headed by former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, are still challenging Mr. Musharraf's re-election. Almost all have registered for parliamentary elections scheduled for January, but they are holding out the threat of boycotting⁶ the vote.

The president said that would not prevent the elections from taking place.

"Elections will be held on 8th January, come whatever may. There is no going back, there is no change. So anyone who is talking of any boycotts⁷ should hear this out," said President Musharraf. 

He said the return of Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Sharif after years in exile was good for Pakistan.

"Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are back. I personally feel this is good for the political reconciliation⁸ that I have spoken of," he said. "And I, with my inner conviction, believe that this is good for the process of political reconciliation."

The president reiterated⁹ that his country's fight against terrorism and extremism will continue, saying failure is not the option.

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

5 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。

6 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

7 boycotts   

（对某事物的）抵制( boycott的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Their methods included boycotts and court action, supplemented by'sit-ins". 他们的主要方法包括联合抵制、法庭起诉，还附带进行静坐抗议。
• Are boycotts for other purposes illegal? 至于用于其它目的的联合抵制行动是否也是非法的呢？

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

9 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。