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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
After President's Departure, Yemen Braces1 for Transition of Leadership
Inspired by protests across the Arab world, demonstrators in Yemen took to the streets to demand the ouster of President Saleh, who has ruled the country with an iron hand for more than three decades.
Mohammed Ahmed is one of those protesters.
“Saleh tore this country into pieces," he said. "He made this country a place for tribal2 feuds3, racism4 and encouraged distinctions between the people.”
President Saleh agreed to transfer power only after parliament passed a controversial law granting him immunity5 from prosecution6.
In what was described as a farewell address, Mr. Saleh was contrite7.
“If shortcomings occurred during my 33-year term, then I ask for forgiveness and I apologize to all the citizens of Yemen," said Saleh.
Last June, a bomb attack on Mr. Saleh’s presidential compound left him severely8 wounded. He spent several months recuperating9 in Saudi Arabia.
The Yemeni president is expected to seek additional medical care in the United States, where officials have stressed his stay will not be permanent.
White House spokesman Jay Carney reiterated10 the U.S. position.
“The purpose of this travel is for medical treatment alone," said Carney. "And we expect that he will stay for a limited time that corresponds to the duration of this treatment.”
Yemen is a major security concern for the United States because it has been a haven11 for Islamic militants12 linked to al-Qaida.
Parts of the country are plagued by kidnappings, banditry and violent tribal feuds that appear beyond the control of the central government.
Marina Ottaway is a Middle East expert with the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment.
“I think our goals in Yemen are very narrow and it is to thwart13 al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and maintain enough stability so people don’t get killed day, after day, after day," she said.
Protesters are demanding the removal of Mr. Saleh’s family members from positions of power out of concern he will still be able to control key components14 of the country.
Ginny Hill directs the Yemen Forum15 at British-based research institution Chatham House:
“The question will be to what extent the president’s son and his nephews and his other relatives are able to retain control over military units, over business interests and over political power," said Hill.
President Saleh has vowed16 to return to Yemen and analysts17 such as the Carnegie Endowment 's Marina Ottoway say he could make a political comeback.
“You don’t stay in power that long in that part of the world if you are not a very astute18 politician with plenty of contacts, with a large network and Saleh has all that," she said. "So the possibility of a comeback can never be completely ruled out.”
A presidential election is scheduled for February 21, but it is not clear if that will end the political crisis and the chaos19 that have rocked Yemen over the past year.
1 braces | |
n.吊带,背带;托架( brace的名词复数 );箍子;括弧;(儿童)牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来 | |
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2 tribal | |
adj.部族的,种族的 | |
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3 feuds | |
n.长期不和,世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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4 racism | |
n.民族主义;种族歧视(意识) | |
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5 immunity | |
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权 | |
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6 prosecution | |
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营 | |
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7 contrite | |
adj.悔悟了的,后悔的,痛悔的 | |
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8 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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9 recuperating | |
v.恢复(健康、体力等),复原( recuperate的现在分词 ) | |
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10 reiterated | |
反复地说,重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 haven | |
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所 | |
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12 militants | |
激进分子,好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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13 thwart | |
v.阻挠,妨碍,反对;adj.横(断的) | |
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14 components | |
(机器、设备等的)构成要素,零件,成分; 成分( component的名词复数 ); [物理化学]组分; [数学]分量; (混合物的)组成部分 | |
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15 forum | |
n.论坛,讨论会 | |
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16 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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17 analysts | |
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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18 astute | |
adj.机敏的,精明的 | |
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19 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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