VOA标准英语2008年-Tuareg Rebels Free Malian Soldiers

Ethnic¹ Tuareg rebels in Mali have released a group of government soldiers that they were holding hostage. The rebels say the move comes as a demonstration² of good faith following talks with the government last month. Brent Latham reports from our West Africa bureau in Dakar, a Malian government official says the move strengthens hope for a lasting³ peace in northern Mali.

Tuareg rebels handed over 21 hostages to Malian authorities Sunday in what the rebels called a gesture of "good faith."

The freed hostages are Malian soldiers captured by Tuareg fighters during the course of the insurgency⁴ in the north of the country. The hostages had been held in the remote, desert area of northeastern Mali.

During peace talks last month in neighboring Algeria, the rebels and the Malian government agreed to exchange hostages and prisoners as a signal of their commitment to reaching a comprehensive deal.

The newly released soldiers join five others turned over to the government since the end of the peace talks on July 21. The talks, moderated by the Algerian ambassador to Mali, forged a renewed agreement between Tuareg leaders and Malian authorities for a ceasefire.

A spokesman for the Malian Ministry⁵ of Defense⁶, Mouhoum Togo, hailed the release of the hostages.

Dozens of other Malian soldiers are still being held by the Tuareg, Togo says. He says their freedom is a priority for the Malian government.

Apart from the exchange of hostages, Togo says the government is working with the Tuaregs towards lasting peace and development in the northern region of Mali. He says the sides will continue a dialogue aimed at finding solutions for the northern region.

Togo says the only thing not negotiable is the territorial⁷ integrity of Mali. In the past Tuareg leaders have said they would like to form an autonomous⁸ region, but Togo says the government's position is that the Malian state is "indivisible."

After 2006 talks also brokered⁹ by Algeria, the Tuareg agreed to give up the claim for regional autonomy in exchange for government promises to speed up development in the region.
Following a recent increase in violence in the region, last month's talks were called to reaffirm the accord reached in 2006. The parties also agreed to the hostage swap¹⁰, and to begin the de-mining of the northern region, as well as the repatriation¹¹ of Tuareg refugees scattered¹² throughout the region.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

4 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

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 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。

7 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

8 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

9 brokered   

adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• a peace plan brokered by the UN 由联合国出面协商的和平计划
• Your husband brokered the deal to go in, transfrer the assets and get our man out. 你丈夫后来插了一脚，把生意都抢了过去，我们的人也被挤了出来。 来自电影对白

10 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

11 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网

12 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。