VOA标准英语2011--Protests Break Out in Libya

Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators marched and chanted in the streets of the Libyan capital Tripoli and the coastal¹ port city of Benghaz. The demonstrations² follow reports in the Libyan press of disturbances³ by anti-government protesters Tuesday in Benghazi.
Libyan government TV showed large crowds of mostly young supporters of Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. Many were carrying banners, signs and portraits of the colonel, as they chanted slogans in his favor. The TV indicated the demonstrations were taking place all across the country.
Supporters at one large rally denounced Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV, calling it "despicable." The Libyan press has attacked al-Jazeera TV in recent weeks for what it calls "biased⁴ coverage⁵" during popular demonstrations that toppled the veteran rulers of both Tunisia and Egypt.
Many of the teenage demonstrators could be seen in the Libyan TV images surrounded by older men leading the chants and encouraging the young men to clap and shout. In one clip, a middle-aged⁶ man read a statement in support of Libyan leader Mr. Gadhafi.
He says the people of the Libyan People's Republic, responding to the recent actions of spies and mercenaries, as well as reports in unreliable media organs, express our love. support and dedication⁷. He says the demonstrators are soldiers for Mr. Gadhafi and he is their leader for life. He adds that the people will use an iron fist to strike the spies and mercenaries trying to destroy the country.
The pro-government demonstrations follow clashes Tuesday in Libya's second-largest city, Benghazi, in which at least several-dozen people were injured. Libyan newspapers denounced the protests, which a Facebook support group called a "Day of Anger" against the government.
Demonstrators could be seen clashing with police in several videos on YouTube. Videos of other alleged⁸ anti-government demonstrations in smaller Libyan cities are also posted on YouTube.
North Africa expert at the Paris Institute for Political Studies (Institut d'etudes politiques de Paris), Luis Martinez, says that anti-government protests take place in Libya regularly, but are often not reported by the media.
He notes there have been serious social problems in Benghazi and Tripoli resulting in protests during the past 10 years. He adds that such protests take on a new dimension in light of recent popular unprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
Middle East Studies Program Director Fouad Ajami, of the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, recently told VOA he thinks Mr. Gadhafi will use whatever force it takes to suppress any popular revolt.
Martinez concurs⁹ with Ajami that events in Libya will probably not snowball into mass protests as they did in Egypt, because the Libyan Army is what he describes as "marginalized' in comparison to two other key forces, the Revolutionary Guard and the Revolutionary Committees. But he says such a conflict would be "extremely violent" if it were to break out, because the army and the Revolutionary Guard are well-armed.

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

4 biased   

a.有偏见的

参考例句：

• a school biased towards music and art 一所偏重音乐和艺术的学校
• The Methods: They employed were heavily biased in the gentry's favour. 他们采用的方法严重偏袒中上阶级。

5 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

6 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

7 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 concurs   

同意（concur的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Gilardi concurs that the newly compiled data is a powerful tool. 吉拉迪认同新汇集的数据是一个强有力的工具。
• Curtin concurs that it's been a blessing and a reward. 柯廷也同意这是一种祝福和奖励。