VOA标准英语2009-Former Mauritanian PM Released From Jail

Mauritania's military rulers have released the country's former prime minister who has been jailed since last August when the government was overthrown¹ in a coup². The release is part of a power-sharing agreement between the military and its political opponents.

Supporters and family members of Ahmed Ould Al Wagef gathered outside prison to celebrate his release.

The former prime minister told reporters he was a hostage, not a political prisoner and vowed³ to defeat General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in elections scheduled for July 18.

Aziz jailed the prime minister following a coup last August that toppled the nation's first freely-elected leader, Sidi Ould Cheik Abdallahi.

Al Wagef's release is part of a power-sharing deal negotiated in neighboring Senegal that postpones⁴ elections originally scheduled for Saturday in exchange for the opposition⁵ ending its electoral boycott⁶ and Abdallahi formally resigning as president to lead a transitional government.
　
Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in his home city Akjoujt (File)

Aziz names the prime minister of that Government of National Unity⁷ and appoints half its ministers. The remaining ministers - including Interior, Finance, and Information - are split between the National Front for the Defense⁸ of Democracy, which supports Abdallahi, and the rival opposition Alliance of Democratic Forces.

Al Wagef's party is part of the National Front. Party head Abdel Koudouss Ould Abeidna said the former prime minister's release is the start of an electoral campaign against Aziz.

"This is a victory for the Mauritanian people, and not only for the politicians, but really it is the people who really fought to get here. And we hope that we will have a future civilian⁹ government, a civilian president,: he said.

Military rulers repeatedly refused African Union demands to reinstate Abdallahi and instead changed the constitution to allow retired¹⁰ military to stand as political candidates.

Aziz resigned his commission to run for president and said he intends to win July's vote. By agreeing to delay Saturday's election, Aziz will face more serious challengers now that the main opposition parties have dropped their boycott. But he is still seen as the front runner and now has the opportunity to contest an election more legitimate¹¹ than Saturday's planned polling which had been widely criticized by the international community.

1 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

2 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。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 postpones   

v.延期，推迟( postpone的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• So it at least postpones the amount of taxes on due. 因此它至少推延了税金的交纳。 来自互联网
• Even if it does, this just postpones the day of reckoning. 但即便如此，也只是推迟了不得不解决根本问题的日子而已。 来自互联网

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 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 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。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。