France Provides Weapons, Food to Libyan Rebels

 　　French military officials say they aided Libyan rebels this month with weapons, munitions¹ and food in their battle against government forces in the western Libyan mountains.

　　Western news agencies on Wednesday quote unidentified French military officials confirming a Le Figaro newspaper reports of "large amounts" of weapons parachuted into the Jebel Nafusa region.

　　Rebels on Sunday made gains in the mountains against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

　　On Tuesday, rebels said they captured a large arms depot² from Gadhafi's forces, boosting critical resupply efforts and fueling an opposition³ push toward the capital, Tripoli.

　　Hundreds of rebel fighters Tuesday combed through the weapons cache, a portion of which had exploded following a NATO bombing. But much remained intact, and a long rebel vehicle convoy⁴ left loaded with rockets, ammunition⁵, high-caliber guns and assault rifles.

　　Insurgents⁶ also seized dozens of military vehicles at the desert site, some 20 kilometers southeast of Zintan, following clashes with loyalist troops.

　　Meanwhile, Britain said a new report by a team planning for a post-conflict Libya recommends that Gadhafi's security forces be left intact after a rebel victory, avoiding what many view as a critical error made after the Iraq war.

　　International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said Tuesday that in the areas of security and justice, the report stresses the importance of maximizing the use of "existing structures." He also said the United Nations is looking into sending an unarmed peacekeeping force into Libya once the conflict ends.

　　His remarks came a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Gadhafi and two top lieutenants⁷ on war crimes charges.

　　The court's chief prosecutor⁸ said he is optimistic Gadhafi's government would fall within two or three months.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 munitions   

n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品

参考例句：

• The army used precision-guided munitions to blow up enemy targets.军队用精确瞄准的枪炮炸掉敌方目标。
• He rose [made a career for himself] by dealing in munitions.他是靠贩卖军火发迹的。

2 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

3 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。

4 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

5 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

6 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

7 lieutenants   

n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员

参考例句：

• In the army, lieutenants are subordinate to captains. 在陆军中，中尉是上尉的下级。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lieutenants now cap at 1.5 from 1. Recon at 1. 中尉现在由1人口增加的1.5人口。侦查小组成员为1人口。 来自互联网

8 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。