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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Members of the Pan-African Parliament are in Niger for separate talks with President Mamdou Tandja and his political opponents concerning the referendum that has extended the president's time in office.
African parliamentarians are in Niger to assess the political crisis, following last month's referendum. They are to report back to the Economic Community of West African States, which is considering sanctions against the Tandja government.
President Mamdou Tandja (File)
That referendum changed the constitution to give another three years in office and removed term limits that would have prevented the 71-year-old from running again.
The president says the results show voters in Niger want him to stay in power, in part, to complete several large infrastructure1 projects including a Chinese oil refinery2 and a French uranium mine.
Election officials say more than two-thirds of eligible3 voters turned out for the referendum, and a resounding4 92 percent voted to keep President Tandja in power.
The opposition5 Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism believes turn-out was closer to five percent. Civil society groups are calling for ECOWAS leaders to suspend Niger from the regional alliance because President Tandja went ahead with the referendum after dismissing both the parliament and the constitutional court that opposed him.
ECOWAS leaders threatened to sanction President Tandja if he changed the constitution, but have not yet acted against him as they are waiting to hear from the delegation6 of Pan-African Parliament members.
The European Union suspended aid to Niger over what it calls "grave violations7" of the rule of law and democratic values. The French foreign ministry8 says the president's actions threaten to weaken Niger's institutions in a "lasting9 fashion."
Since the referendum, the Tandja government has accused nearly 30 opposition parliament members of financial crimes as part of an investigation10 into legislative11 expense claims.
The latest to be detained is opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou, who was arrested shortly after security forces prevented him from leaving the country.
After being released on bail12, Issoufou told reporters the financial charges against him are purely13 political. He says the people of Niger will see that next year's budget will be half of this year's budget because international donors14 are withholding15 aid to protest what he calls President Tandja's dictatorship.
1 infrastructure | |
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施 | |
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2 refinery | |
n.精炼厂,提炼厂 | |
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3 eligible | |
adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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4 resounding | |
adj. 响亮的 | |
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5 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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6 delegation | |
n.代表团;派遣 | |
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7 violations | |
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸 | |
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8 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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9 lasting | |
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持 | |
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10 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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11 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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12 bail | |
v.舀(水),保释;n.保证金,保释,保释人 | |
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13 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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14 donors | |
n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 );献血者;捐血者;器官捐献者 | |
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15 withholding | |
扣缴税款 | |
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