VOA标准英语2008年-US Blasts 'Completely Fraudulent' Zimbabwe Elec

The United States Friday expressed deep disappointment that Zimbabwe's presidential runoff election went forward even though incumbent¹ President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate. U.S. officials say they will pursue new bilateral² and international action against the Mugabe government. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
　
President Robert Mugabe reacts after casting his vote on election day in Harare, 27 Jun 2008

U.S. diplomats³ were only able to observe voting in a few neighborhoods in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. But State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said it is clear, even from that small sampling, that the election is being conducted in what he termed "a true climate of intimidation⁴ and fear."

He says the Mugabe government, whatever it may say about the election, will emerge from the "sham⁵ process" with no legitimacy⁶ in the world community.

The comments were some of the strongest to date from the Bush administration, which stepped up its criticism of the Harare government after opposition⁷ leader Morgan Tsvangirai's departure from the race earlier this week amid a wave of government-inspired violence.

Spokesman Casey said the situation has generated international concern and disappointment even among longtime defenders⁸ of Mr. Mugabe in the southern African regional grouping SADC, and the African Union.

He said he hopes the AU, discussing the Zimbabwean situation in a weekend summit in Egypt, will push for a political solution to the crisis:

"We would hope they would continue to speak out in opposition to this completely fraudulent electoral process that is now under way, and put their weight behind international efforts to reach some kind of political solution," he said. "At this point, I am not prepared to tell them what specific measures they ought to take. But clearly we're looking for them to speak out and do what they think is appropriate, and take what steps they can to be able to put pressure on the regime to change its approach."

Echoing remarks by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the G8 foreign ministers meeting in Japan, Casey said the United States will seek additional action in the U.N. Security Council beyond the president's statement from the council earlier this week condemning⁹ Zimbabwe election violence.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad completes his one-month term as rotating Security Council president next Monday. But Casey said the Bush administration does not see a need to push for further council action by Monday, saying world concern about Zimbabwe will not suddenly go away.

He also said there are "a lot of things" the United States can do bilaterally¹⁰, beyond targeted U.S. sanctions against the Harare leadership already in place, to underline its displeasure over the latest events.

 

1 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 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》

4 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

5 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

6 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

7 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。

8 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 bilaterally   

[医]adv.两侧，双向地

参考例句：

• The data in the Performance Test shall be Bilaterally recorded and confirmed. 在生产线考核期间的数据应由双方共同记录并确认。
• Anatomic constraints may preclude the insertion a transarticular screw unilaterally or bilaterally. 解剖制约可能妨碍单边或双边插入关节螺钉。