2006年VOA标准英语-Tensions Rise in Chad Capital Before Contr

By Joe Bavier
N'Djamena
02 May 2006

A day before elections in Chad, tension is mounting amid fears of violence and possible attacks on polling stations, following a rebel threat to disrupt the election. But the government says the poll will be secure.

-------------------------------------------------

Supporters of Chadian President Idriss Deby wave as a riot policeman look on, Sunday, April 30, 2006, during his last campaign rally in the capital, N'djamena before next week's election  
  

Residents in N'Djamena went out early, packing onto the capital's main boulevard, hoping to stock up on essential provisions before Wednesday's presidential poll.

The U.S. embassy has warned its citizens in Chad to stay indoors on election day. Other diplomatic missions in N'Djamena have issued similar alerts. And many residents of the capital are returning to their homes.

Rumors¹ of a possible attack by the United Front for Change rebel movement have circulated for the past week. The rebels led a raid on N'Djamena less than three weeks ago in an attempt to topple President Idriss Deby before the polls.

That attack was repelled² by Chadian security forces with the help of the French army. Government forces have been re-inforced in N'Djamena, but rebel leaders have vowed³ to stop the election from taking place.

President Deby pushed through a referendum last year to allow him to run for a third term. A coalition⁴ of the country's main opposition⁵ parties boycotted⁶ the referendum and dispute the results, which appeared to show a large majority of Chadians in favor of changing the constitution's presidential term limit.

Last year, the U.N. Development Program published a report questioning the composition of voter lists used in the referendum. Those same lists are being used for Wednesday's presidential election and opposition leaders are again telling their supporters to stay home.

President Deby is facing four challengers. Two are ministers in his government. The two others are members of parties belonging to a coalition allied⁷ to the president.

1 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 repelled   

v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• They repelled the enemy. 他们击退了敌军。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The minister tremulously, but decidedly, repelled the old man's arm. 而丁梅斯代尔牧师却哆里哆嗦地断然推开了那老人的胳臂。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 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。

6 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

7 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。