VOA标准英语2008年-Hezbollah to End Armed Presence in Beirut

By Ed Yeranian
Beirut
10 May 2008

Hezbollah said it would withdraw all its fighters from the streets of Lebanon's capital, after Lebanon's army command said it would retain the pro-Hezbollah security chief at Beirut Airport, whose dismissal sparked this week's clashes between Hezbollah fighters and militias¹ loyal to Lebanon's U.S.-backed government. The army statement followed a nationally televised address by the prime minister urging the army to restore order across the country. Ed Yeranian reports for VOA from Beirut.

The Lebanese army command said the airport security chief would remain in his post and that it would look into Hezbollah's controversial communications network. The latest clashes were sparked Tuesday after the government voted to fire the pro-Hezbollah security chief and declare the communications network illegal.

The army also called on all gunmen to withdraw from the streets.

The army statement followed a nationally televised address by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who demanded that Hezbollah "remove its fighters from the streets… and respect government institutions."

 

He accused Hezbollah of staging an armed coup² and called on the army to restore order.

He called for dialogue, saying Hezbollah's defense³ should not be through arms, but through the agreement of all the Lebanese people and via the Lebanese government.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati begged all politicians to compromise. He said "Lebanon can only be governed through cooperation and entente⁴ between all parties."

Tensions and scattered⁵ violence persisted across parts of Lebanon Saturday, while a precarious⁶ calm prevailed in West Beirut. The acrid⁷ smell of smoke lingered over Beirut's Hamra district, scene of intense street fighting.

Lebanese Army tanks took up position in many Beirut neighborhoods, and appeared to be keeping order as Hezbollah fighters evacuated⁸ areas they had occupied Friday.

Abu Ziad Jarafeh, a former high school teacher in West Beirut predicted that the fighting was not over, because the Lebanese people had not learned the lessons of the past.

"It's a shame… this country is moving towards a minimum of twelve months of chaos… minimum… because there are (sic) no brains enough in this country," he said.

Meanwhile, Kuwait and other Arab countries evacuated their citizens from Lebanon via the northern coastal⁹ highway to Syria. The main Beirut-Damascus highway, as well as the road to Beirut Airport remain closed.

The Arab League is due to meet in Cairo Sunday to discuss developments in Lebanon.

1 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

2 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 entente   

n.协定；有协定关系的各国

参考例句：

• The French entente with Great Britain had already been significantly extended.法国和英国之间友好协议的范围已经大幅度拓宽。
• Electoral pacts would not work,but an entente cordiale might.选举协定不会起作用，但是政府间的谅解也许可以。

5 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

6 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

7 acrid   

adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的

参考例句：

• There is an acrid tone to your remarks.你说这些话的口气带有讥刺意味。
• The room was filled with acrid smoke.房里充满刺鼻的烟。

8 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

9 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。