Breakaway Georgian Region Elects President

 　　Residents of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia voted for a new president Friday, three years after Russia recognized the region, and another breakaway area, South Ossetia, as independent states.

　　Three candidates are hoping to replace President Sergei Bagapsh, who died in May.  They are acting¹ President Alexander Ankvab, Prime Minister Sergei Shamba and Raul Khajimba of the opposition² Forum³ of the National Unity⁴ of Abkhazia.

　　If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off election will be held in two weeks.  Preliminary results were to be announced Saturday.

　　Georgian lawmakers have declared the presidential election by Abkhazia illegitimate.  Much of the West and Tbilisi maintain that both Abkhazia and South Ossetia are still part of Georgia's sovereign territory.

　　Russia and Georgia fought a short, but brutal⁵ war over the region in 2008, and Russia still has thousands of soldiers stationed in Abkhazia.

　　The breakaway region has only been recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua and the tiny Pacific island of Nauru.

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

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 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。