VOA标准英语2010年-Military Announces Takeover as Madagas

A group of military officers in Madagascar say they have taken control of the country and have dissolved all political institutions. Another group of senior officers, however, says it will oppose any mutiny. The dispute erupted as voting concluded on a new constitution.
Despite the conflict within the military ranks, voting on Madagascar's new constitution was calm.
About 18,000 polling booths across Madagascar opened Wednesday at dawn to allow the island nation's 7 million registered voters to vote 'yes' or 'no' on the draft charter.
President Andry Rajoelina cast his vote in Antananarivo and urged his countrymen to do the same.
He said taking responsibility is important when it comes to the fact that citizens can express their opinions through the referendum, because it is really the opinion of the people that is sought, for the future of the country. Rajoelina said it is very important to participate.
Later, he told reporters he would not step down in defiance¹ of military threats.
Supporters hoped the new constitution would bring political stability, and restore donor² and investor³ support, following the military-backed coup⁴ nearly two years ago. That brought Mr. Rajoelina to power and ousted⁵ then-President Marc Ravalomanana.
Three main opposition⁶ parties, led by Mr. Ravalomanana and two other former Malagasy presidents, rejected the referendum and called for a boycott⁷.
A resident of Antananarivo, Aha Randriamahefa, said many people are tired of the crisis and quarreling among politicians. He said he voted because he would like to see changes in governance. If he had not voted there would be no change. There are politicians who are still bickering⁸, but he said voting is not a competition between individuals, rather a way to find a solution.
The draft constitution, if approved, would extend Mr. Rajoelina's transitional government until elections are held next year. It also would lower the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years. Mr. Rajoelina, who is 36, has said he would not be a candidate for president.
The draft charter would require presidential candidates to have resided in the country for at least six months prior to the elections. This would block Mr. Ravalomanana, who has been in exile since the coup.
The African Union and Southern Africa Development Community suspended Madagascar following the coup, and western donors⁹ suspended non-humanitarian aid.
International negotiators tried to mediate¹⁰ several power-sharing deals, but these collapsed¹¹ because of disputes over how to share the top posts. This led Mr. Rajoelina to say he would proceed with the transition without foreign assistance.

1 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

2 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

3 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

4 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。

5 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

6 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。

7 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。

8 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

11 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。