VOA常速英语2008年-Kenyan Opposition Suspends Demonstrations

By Scott Bobb
Nairobi
27 February 2008

Kenya's opposition¹ party says it is suspending anti-government demonstrations² planned for Thursday despite the lack of progress toward resolving the country's ongoing³ political crisis. The opposition said the postponement⁵ was made at the request of former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan who is trying to broker⁶ a power sharing deal between the two sides. VOA's Scott Bobb reports from Nairobi.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga suspended demonstrations planned for Thursday after meeting Wednesday with chief mediator⁷ Kofi Annan.

"I would like to announce here and now on behalf of our movement that we will postpone⁴, we have therefore postponed⁸ until further notice any kind of actions that were intended for tomorrow [Thursday]," he said.

Mr. Odinga said his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remained committed to the success of the talks and did not wish to put roadblocks in their way.  There were fears that the protests might degenerate⁹ into violence as they did after the results were announced for the disputed presidential election.

Mr. Annan also met with President Mwai Kibaki who issued a statement saying the differences between the two parties were not insurmountable.

The former U.N. Secretary-General suspended the talks Tuesday saying progress was too slow and the negotiators appeared to have lost the will to compromise.  He said he would engage directly with the leaders of the two sides to try to break the impasse¹⁰.

"I think the issues that divide the parties are bridgeable, but it does require political will, leadership and wisdom to move forward," he said.

He said the parties know the Kenyan people have been traumatized by the violence that killed 1,000 people and displaced several hundred thousand.  And he said they are aware of the need to reach a solution so that the country can move forward.

Mr. Annan did not say when the talks might resume. The suspension brought a quick reaction from the United States and the European Commission, which reiterated¹¹ that those who blocked a solution to the crisis would face sanctions.

The head of the African Union, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete, arrived in Nairobi Wednesday and met separately with Mr. Odinga and Mr. Kibaki.  He expressed confidence in the process.

The two sides have agreed in principle to the creation of the post of prime minister.  But they have not been able to agree on the powers accorded the post.  The opposition wants the prime minister to be head-of-government with control over the ministries¹² while the government wants the position to be subordinate to the presidency¹³.

1 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。

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 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。

4 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

5 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

6 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

7 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

8 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

9 degenerate   

v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者

参考例句：

• He didn't let riches and luxury make him degenerate.他不因财富和奢华而自甘堕落。
• Will too much freedom make them degenerate?太多的自由会令他们堕落吗？

10 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

11 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

12 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

13 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。