voa标准英语2008-Military Group Claims to Have Taken Power in Gui

A military-led group in Guinea says it has taken power, following the death of long-time President Lansana Conte. But the civilian¹ government in Conakry says it is still in charge.

Mutinous² soldiers in Guinea say they have dissolved the government and constitution.

Coup³ follows announcement of president's death
　

Lansana Conte (2002 file photo)

The coup attempt followed an early morning broadcast announcing President Conte's death. In that broadcast, the head of Guinea's armed forces and other military leaders stood beside the head of the national assembly, Aboubacar Sompare, who called for the supreme⁴ court to follow the constitution and make him president.

The coup announcement that followed said the newly-formed National Council for Democracy would take charge of the destiny of the Guinean people. Government ministers were ordered to report to a military barracks that has been the scene of several unsuccessful mutinies against the Conte government.

Prime minister denies claim military is in charge

Guinean Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare says his government has not been dissolved. He told French radio that those behind the coup attempt have not used force and the government is calling for understanding and compassion⁵ from all Guineans, especially the military.

Former colonial power France says it will oppose any military take-over. Assembly Speaker Sompare told French television there are negotiations⁶ underway between soldiers backing the coup and those supporting constitutional rule.

Army Chief of Staff General Diarra Camara told VOA that he did not think the coup had been a success and appealed to Guineans to follow rules for a peaceful transition of power as outlined in the constitution. Asked what would happen if they did not, General Camara said, "By then, I may not be chief of staff anymore."

Army chief explains motivation for coup
　

Guinean soldiers on armored vehicles patrol streets of Conakry, 23 Dec 2008

Announcing the coup attempt, Captain Moussa Camara said the military was taking power to stop what he called widespread corruption⁷, impunity⁸, anarchy⁹, and a catastrophic economic situation.

Camara said members of the Conte government are, in large part, responsible for what he called an "unprecedented¹⁰ economic and social crisis." He said a joint¹¹ civilian-military council reflecting the nation's ethnic¹² balance would run the country until new elections.

A reporter for VOA in Conakry says the situation is confused, but the capital remains¹³ calm as most people are following orders to stay at home.

President Conte died after long illness

President Conte had been ill for some time. The nation's second president was thought to be in his 70s and was a heavy smoker¹⁴ who suffered from diabetes¹⁵. He ruled Guinea since a 1984 coup that followed the death of post-independence leader Ahmed Sekou Toure.

President Conte first won election in 1993 in a vote protested by political opponents because some results were canceled. He survived a February 1996 army mutiny protesting pay in which at least 40 people were killed. The president was captured by mutineers who later freed him when he promised to raise troop salaries.

President Conte was re-elected in 1998 after his main challenger was jailed for sedition¹⁶. A referendum changing the constitution to remove term limits allowed President Conte to run again in 2003. Most opposition¹⁷ parties boycotted¹⁸ that ballot¹⁹, and he was re-elected with more than 95 percent of the vote.

President Conte also survived an assassination²⁰ attempt by dissident soldiers in January of 2005.

Following his death, Guinea's constitution calls for presidential elections within 60 days. Legislative²¹ elections had already been planned for next year.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 mutinous   

adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变

参考例句：

• The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
• His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后，他所率军队出现反叛情绪。

3 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

4 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。

5 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

8 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

9 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

10 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

11 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

12 ethnic   

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。

13 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

14 smoker   

n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室

参考例句：

• His wife dislikes him to be a smoker.他妻子不喜欢他当烟民。
• He is a moderate smoker.他是一个有节制的烟民。

15 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

16 sedition   

n.煽动叛乱

参考例句：

• Government officials charged him with sedition.政府官员指控他煽动人们造反。
• His denial of sedition was a denial of violence.他对煽动叛乱的否定又是对暴力的否定。

17 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。

18 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。

19 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。

20 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

21 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。