2007年VOA标准英语-Violence Leaves 27 Dead in Pakistan as Politica

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
12 May 2007

At least 27 people have been killed in clashes between pro- and anti-government activists¹ in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from Islamabad the widespread violence represents a major challenge to President Pervez Musharraf's authority.

opposition2 chant slogans against Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf upon arrival of Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice at Karachi airport on Saturday" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070605/1100380.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Supporters of opposition chant slogans against Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf upon arrival of Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice at Karachi airport on Saturday

Terrified residents took shelter Saturday as gunfire and other violence swept through the southern port city of Karachi.

Police and witnesses say the fighting began Saturday morning.

Thousands of pro-government activists roamed the city streets as opposition groups attempted to gather to support the country's suspended chief justice, Iftakhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

 

Pakistani television showed people marching through Karachi streets carrying handguns, assault rifles and flags of a pro-government party. Scores of vehicles were set on fire.

Talat Hussain is the news director for Pakistan's Aaj Television network. Speaking by phone from Karachi he says pro-government gunmen attacked the network's offices after it showed live footage of the violence outside. "This is like a battlefield. There is no law enforcement in sight and bullets are flying all around," he said.

Officials say more than 15,000 police and para-military forces were deployed³ throughout the city.

The former chief justice spent most of the day stranded⁴ inside Karachi's main airport and was ultimately forced to cancel plans to address his supporters.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf addressed his own political rally in Islamabad Saturday night, several hours after the situation in Karachi appeared to be improving.

He says he will not impose any emergency restrictions⁵ on the country. He says there is no need to take such extreme measures and the country's democracy will continue its course. He said national elections will be held later this year.

Pakistan Musharraf suspended Chaudhry on March 9 over unspecified allegations that he abused his authority.

The move sparked protests around the country and remains⁶ one of greatest political crises President Musharraf has faced since he seized power in a 1999 military coup⁷.

His critics say Mr. Musharraf only removed the judge to gain control over the country's judiciary ahead of those planned national elections.

He is expected to seek another five-year presidential term while also remaining the country's military chief, a move his critics say is unconstitutional and subject to challenge in the country's high court.

Opposition parties are demanding the judge either be reinstated or that Mr. Musharraf resign from office.

Neither side has made any move toward compromise and the political standoff shows no signs of lessening⁸.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 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。

8 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。