2006年VOA标准英语-DRC Candidate Cancels Rally Following Violence

By Nico Colombant
Kinshasa
26 October 2006
 
Former rebel leader and presidential candidate in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Pierre Bemba, has canceled a stadium rally, following violence in the capital city, Kinshasa. He is facing current president, Joseph Kabila, in Sunday's run-off election. 

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A top official for Bemba's campaign team says the stadium rally will not take place Friday as initially¹ planned.

Jean-Pierre Bemba   
  
He said smaller rallies will be organized in certain parts of the city, and there will be neighborhood political meetings. But, he said the mass rally led by Bemba has been canceled.

Earlier, the former rebel leader and one of four vice² presidents in the current transitional government said he wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

"Concerning the rally, I am very concerned about security in town," said Mr. Bemba.  "I would not like blood during this rally and according to some information I have there will be some sabotage³ during this rally."

Violence erupted during his big rally in Kinshasa before the first round of presidential elections. Bemba's supporters clashed with police and burned several buildings.

In August, first round results were followed by fierce clashes between militant⁴ supporters of both candidates, leaving dozens dead in the streets of Kinshasa.

Bemba says this should not happen again.

Mr. Bemba's Security  
  
"I hope that will not happen anymore because in democracy tanks and troops have no place in the street.  What I try to ask is that if there are any problems, there should be dialogue," he added.

Bemba also said his campaign director in the south-Kivu eastern region had disappeared earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, U.N. officials say a firefight between police protecting a failed first round candidate now backing Mr. Kabila, and Bemba's guard, left at least four people dead in the country's northwestern city of Gbadolite. A civilian⁵ was also reported killed.

The incident involved Nzanga Mobutu, the son of the country's former dictator, who finished fourth in the first round, and was apparently⁶ trapped for hours inside a radio station belonging to Bemba.

 
Supporters of Mr. Kabila 
  
In Kinshasa, at least two people were confirmed dead Thursday after a prison riot broke out, following an escape several days before. Some of those who escaped had been convicted in the killing⁷ of Mr. Kabila's father, the former coup⁸ leader and president, Laurent Desire Kabila.

Because of security concerns, neither Bemba nor Mr. Kabila has made a campaign appearance in the run-up to Sunday's run-off, and a debate between the two candidates has been canceled."

1 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 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。