VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan President Denies Major Fraud in Tai

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
17 September 2009

Afghanistan's president is denying there was any major fraud in last month's voting. Full, preliminary results show the incumbent¹, Hamid Karzai, capturing enough votes to avoid a runoff with his closest challenger.

 
Afghan President Hamid Karzai (File)
For the first time since the August 20 election, President Karzai has addressed allegations made by domestic and foreign observers of massive ballot-box stuffing.

"Fraud - if it is committed - it has to be investigated, but investigated fairly and without prejudice," Karzai said.

The president says media reports have exaggerated the incidents of fraud. Auditing² and recounting of votes could reduce his total below the majority needed to avoid a run-off against former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

European Union election observers contend about 30 percent of the ballots³ are tainted⁴, including more than one-million suspect votes for the incumbent.

The votes were counted by the government-appointed Independent Election Commission. A partial recount has been ordered by another body, the Election Complaints Commission, which is dominated by appointees of the United Nations. 

The U.N. Mission in Afghanistan is, itself, split over how tough overseers should be concerning the fraud allegations. The second-in-command at the mission, American diplomat⁵ Peter Galbraith, confirms he left Afghanistan after a disagreement with U.N. Special Representative Kai Eide on the post-election approach.  Reports say Ambassador Galbraith has sided with the Canadian chairman of the Electoral Complaints Commission, Grant Kippen, to take a hard line and toss out all tainted ballots.
 
A more cautious group of officials and diplomats⁶, contending a fraud-free election is impossible, warns of the dangers of attempting to hold a run-off in a country fighting a worsening insurgency⁷. Some are calling for the incumbent and the top challenger to be pressured into a power-sharing deal.

The electoral crisis comes as Taliban forces have widened their influence and increased attacks on the 42-nation member coalition⁸ and Afghan troops.

The United States, which has the majority of the 100,000 armed personnel in Afghanistan, is debating whether to send more troops. This comes at a time when American public support for the eight-year military campaign is on the wane⁹.

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 auditing   

n.审计，查账，决算

参考例句：

• Auditing standards are the rules governing how an audit is performed.收支检查标准是规则统治一个稽核如何被运行。
• The auditing services market is dominated by a few large accounting firms.审计服务市场被几家大型会计公司独占了。

3 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

6 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》

7 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 wane   

n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦

参考例句：

• The moon is on the wane.月亮渐亏。
• Her enthusiasm for him was beginning to wane.她对他的热情在开始减退。