VOA标准英语2009年-Taylor Denies Meeting With Rebel Leader on

By Kate Thomas
Dakar
23 September 2009

 
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor sits in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court prior to the beginning of his defense¹ case during his trial in The Hague, 13 Jul 2009
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor denies testimony² by a prosecution³ witness that he met with rebel-leader Foday Sankoh on the eve of the Revolutionary United Front's invasion of Sierra Leone.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has testified at his war crimes trial that he did not meet with a rebel leader on the eve of the invasion of Sierra Leone.

The 61-year-old is facing 11 counts of war crimes allegedly committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone. His defense case, conducted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague, is now in its ninth week.

Among the allegations, prosecutors⁵ say he provided weapons to the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone in exchange for access to so-called "blood diamonds."

The 1991 invasion of Sierra Leone sparked a brutal⁶ civil war in the West African country, marked by tussles⁷ over diamonds and participation⁸ by child soldiers. At least 50,000 people were killed in the 11 year conflict, which ended in 2002.

Taylor refuted claims that he met with Foday Sankoh, the leader of the Revolutionary United Front rebel group, the day before Sierra Leone was invaded.

Sankoh, a former army corporal and photographer, led the first attacks on villages in a diamond-rich province of Sierra Leone in 1991.

A prosecution witness alleged⁴ that the former Liberian president had traveled on the road to Voinjama, the main city in northern Liberia, close to the borders of Guinea and Sierra Leone, a day earlier.

But Taylor said he did not. "He is lying," he said. "There is no way I was in any convoy⁹ on the road. He made that up. It is a lie."

Since his defense case began in July, the former president has repeatedly dismissed the prosecution's claims as lies.

He continued to do so today. "If I was on that road, I would say I was on that road," said the former Liberian president. "I was never on that road in February or March or April or May or June or July of `1991, ever. No, he lied."

The defense case continues Thursday.

1 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。

2 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

3 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

6 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

7 tussles   

n.扭打，争斗( tussle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They need no running fights with large, fierce rats or tussles with grown rabbits. 它们不必奔跑着与大又凶的老鼠搏斗了，也不必跟大兔子扭斗了。 来自辞典例句
• The magazine has had a series of tussles with Asian governments. 该杂志曾与亚洲多国政府发生争执。 来自互联网

8 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

9 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。