2007年VOA标准英语-Sierra Leone Political Parties Prepare for Poss

By Kari Barber
Dakar
19 August 2007

A runoff is looking likely in Sierra Leone's presidential election, held last Saturday. With more than 80 percent of preliminary results released, neither of the top two contenders is close to the 55 percent of votes needed to win outright¹. In the latest results released by the National Electoral Commission, opposition² leader Ernest Koroma has 44 percent and Vice³ President Solomon Berewa has 38 percent. Kari Barber has more from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar.

Pedestrians4 pass in front of a campaign banner for presidential candidate and current vice president Solomon Berewa following the close of the polls, in Freetown " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070825/1126380.jpg" width="158" vspace="2" border="0" />

Pedestrians pass in front of a campaign banner for presidential candidate and current vice president Solomon Berewa following the close of the polls, in Freetown

 Spokesman for the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party, Victor Reider, says his party is preparing its strategy in case the presidential vote goes to a runoff, which would likely be held in September. SLPP candidate Vice President Solomon Berewa has trailed Ernest Koroma of the All People's Congress throughout the preliminary vote tallying⁵.

"Our priority will be to go back to our people, especially in those areas where we seemingly did not do well and try to canvas their support while not underestimating the need for alliances," he said.

The People's Movement for Democratic Change, the party of third place candidate Charles Margai, broke off from the ruling party in 2006. A runoff would likely see the APC and SLPP courting the third place candidate's backing and supporters.

Carolyn Norris with the International Crisis Group says a runoff could provide a good opportunity for Sierra Leoneans to make demands on their leaders.

"I think it will be an interesting time, but it is also a time when the electorate⁶ should take every possibility to make requests of presidential candidates who remain in the race and try and establish the rules of what they want the president to do for Sierra Leone," said Norris. 

The Sierra Leone government has been called one of the most corrupt⁷ in the world, according to surveys by non governmental organizations.

Norris says the voters will want to see the winner taking immediate⁸ actions to show progress once he enters office.

"The expectations of the Sierra Leone people have been heightened by this very vibrant⁹ electoral process and once this person is in the statehouse, that person has to take very seriously the expectation of the population," added Norris.

President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah could not run again after serving the maximum two terms in office.

The presidential elections are the first since UN peacekeepers left Sierra Leone in 2005 after an 11- year civil war that ravaged¹⁰ the country. The war is said to have been fueled by the illegal sale of so-called "conflict diamonds."

1 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

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 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。

4 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 tallying   

v.计算，清点( tally的现在分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• In 2007 the state set a U.S. record, tallying 141 twisters. 该州在2007年以总计出现了141个龙卷风而创下了一个美国记录。 来自互联网
• We charge extra fee at 100% of the rates of tallying fees. 我们按理货收费率的100%收取附加费。 来自互联网

6 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

10 ravaged   

毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫

参考例句：

• a country ravaged by civil war 遭受内战重创的国家
• The whole area was ravaged by forest fires. 森林火灾使整个地区荒废了。