2007年VOA标准英语-Thousands of Iraqis Protest US Presence in Iraq

By Margaret Besheer
Baghdad
09 April 2007

Tens of thousands of supporters of radical¹ Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr responded to his call for mass demonstrations² in the Shiite holy city of Najaf Monday. From Baghdad, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

Followers3 of radical anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr march through the holy city of Najaf, 09 Apr 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070530/1356150.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Followers of radical anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr march through the holy city of Najaf, 09 Apr 2007

The demonstrators gathered in the southern city of Najaf on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to U.S.-led forces.

The crowd chanted, "Get out occupier!" and waved Iraqi flags and banners saying "Down with Bush, Down with America."

They marched from the nearby city of Kufa to Najaf. Many people came by bus from other cities, including Baghdad.

Security was tight with Iraqi police and soldiers guarding checkpoints near the city. Across Iraq, a 24-hour ban on all vehicles went into effect at 5 o'clock Monday morning.

Anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Mehdi Army fought coalition⁴ forces in Najaf in 2004, called on supporters to protest the continued presence of U.S. and foreign forces in Iraq.

By midday the cleric had not made an appearance at the rally. U.S. officials say Moqtada al-Sadr has gone to Iran to escape the current security crackdown, but his aides deny it, saying the cleric is in Iraq.

In his place, Iraqi parliamentarian and Sadr spokesman Nasir Rubai told the crowd that the invading enemy which has invaded our land is now targeting the dignity of the Iraqi people. He said after four years, there are hundreds of thousands of dead and injured Iraqis.

Also addressing the rally was Shiite cleric Abdul Hadi al Muhammad Awi, who called for the withdrawal⁵ of "the last American soldier" and said the continued presence of any kind of military base in this Islamic country would be unacceptable.

1 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

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 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。