VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistan's Musharraf Steps Down as Army Chief

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
28 November 2007
 

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has stepped down as chief of the army in a ceremony transferring power to his hand-picked successor, General Ashfaq Kayani. On Thursday, Mr. Musharraf is scheduled to take the oath as a civilian¹ president. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad.

Members of Pakistan's caretaker government joined journalists and military officers for the resignation ceremony in a small stadium in Rawalpindi.

In the country's first such transfer of power broadcast live on television, an emotional Pervez Musharraf passed the ceremonial command stick of the army chief of staff to his successor. They then saluted² each other.

 

General Musharraf, wearing a uniform studded with medals, said he was sad to leave the army after 46 years of service, but he expressed confidence in its new leader, General Ashfaq Kayani.

He said he has known General Kayani for the last 20 years. Mr. Musharraf said the general has served under his command and he found him to be an exceptional soldier.

General Kayani takes control of more than 500,000 regular troops as well as those units responsible for safeguarding the country's nuclear arsenal³. Analysts⁴ say the 55-year-old former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency is likely to continue cooperating with the U.S. counter-terrorism operations in the region.

Mr. Musharraf said Pakistan's military is being stretched by numerous conflicts, but he is confident the military will prevail.

He says the army is under immense pressure from conflicts in Pakistan's tribal⁵ areas and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, an ongoing⁶ insurgency⁷ in Baluchistan, and the threat from terrorist groups that have moved into settled areas of the country.

The resignation fulfills⁸ Mr. Musharraf's promise to resign his military command once his re-election as president was confirmed by the Supreme⁹ Court. That confirmation¹⁰ came last week.

Opposition¹¹ leaders welcomed Mr. Musharraf's decision to remove his uniform, which he has at times called his "second skin," but said the president must do more to restore the country's democracy.

Mr. Musharraf's resignation cuts ties with his most powerful support base in the military, but he still enjoys sweeping¹² powers under the country's emergency laws.

Critics say those powers could help him rig January's national elections to strengthen his party, despite his own falling popularity and the return of two former prime ministers opposed to him.

On Thursday, Mr. Musharraf is scheduled to take the presidential oath for his second five-year term. He is also scheduled to make an address on national television that senior officials say may include setting a date for ending emergency rule.

The resignation fulfills Mr. Musharraf's promise to resign his military command once his re-election as president was confirmed by the Supreme Court. That confirmation came last week.

The outgoing chief of staff addressed a crowd of government officials, journalists and military officers in Rawalpindi Wednesday, wearing a uniform studded with medals. He said he was sad to leave the army after 46 years of service, but he expressed confidence in its new leader, General Ashfaq Kayani.

He says the army is under immense pressure from conflicts in Pakistan's tribal areas, an ongoing insurgency in Baluchistan, and terrorist groups. Still, he says he is confident the military will prevail.

 

Mr. Musharraf's swearing-in as president is due to take place Thursday.

1 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。

2 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

8 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

9 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

10 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

11 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。

12 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？