VOA标准英语2009年-African Union Will Sanction Guinea Unless Elect

The African Union says Guinea's military rulers will face international sanctions if they go back on a promise to hold elections within six months. West African leaders plan to meet in Nigeria Saturday to discuss their response to the coup¹.
　

Jean Ping (file photo)

African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping met with coup leaders following last month's funeral for long-time Guinean president Lansana Conte.

Army Captain Moussa Camara launched his coup within hours of Conte's death, promising² elections in two years and ultimately forcing civilian³ leaders to yield power.

Ping says he told Captain Camara that two years is too long. "I told him that you said two years," he said. "I said we can't accept two years. And he said, 'Well, I am ready to go for six months if you want, provided that things go well.'"
　

Captain Moussa Dadis Camara (file photo)

In a meeting with reporters in Addis Ababa Friday, Ping said Captain Camara told him that he would reinstate Guinea's previous constitutional limit of two, five-year presidential terms, repealing⁴ the seven-year, unlimited⁵ terms imposed by President Conte.

With the promise that none of the coup leaders would run for office, Ping said he told Captain Camara that the African Union would help them restore democracy if they kept their word.

"We told them that we are going to monitor to see if you will respect your commitment, and we are ready to help you to bring back a constitutional order," he said. "Otherwise you will face sanctions."

The African Union has already suspended Guinea. The United Nations, the United States, and the European Union have all condemned⁶ the coup and are calling for a quick return to civilian rule.

Regional leaders from the Economic Community of West African States meet in Nigeria Saturday to discuss their response to Guinea's coup. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua called the special meeting to consider sanctions against Captain Camara's ruling council.

But there are divisions within the alliance about how best to address the military take-over.
　

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade7

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade says coup leaders deserve international support because they are promising to hold free and fair elections. He says Captain Camara is an honest young man who took power to fill a dangerous vacuum.

Former Nigerian leader Ibrahim Babangida says the coup was timely and patriotic⁸. Babangida, who took power in his own coup in 1985, says Guinea was polarized before the military saved the country. He told Nigerian television that instead of criticizing the new military leaders, the international community should help them get the country back on its feet.

Babangida went to Guinea as President Yar'adua's envoy⁹. When told that Nigeria's foreign affairs minister said Abuja will not recognize Conakry's military regime, Babangida told Nigerian television that the minister has no clue about what is happening on the ground in Guinea.

ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohamed Ibn Chambas says the regional alliance remains¹⁰ opposed to military take-overs and will consider sanctions against Guinea.

Ping says the African Union is determined¹¹ to impose coordinated¹² sanctions against Captain Camara's military government if it does not move quickly toward elections.

"We are trying to harmonize our position with the international community to strengthen our threat," he said.

Guinea's military leaders have consolidated¹³ power by taking charge of the national treasury¹⁴, appointing a civilian prime minister, and forcing the retirement¹⁵ of senior military officers who opposed them. They have arrested the former armed forces chief of staff and the former chief of the navy.

1 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。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 repealing   

撤销，废除( repeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• In addition, repealing the alternative minimum tax would also help. 此外，废除替代性最低税也会有所帮助。
• Repealing the investment tax credit. 取消投资税款扣除。

5 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

8 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

9 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

12 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

13 consolidated   

a.联合的

参考例句：

• With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director. 他新执导的影片巩固了他作为全国最佳导演的地位。
• Those two banks have consolidated and formed a single large bank. 那两家银行已合并成一家大银行。

14 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

15 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。