VOA标准英语2009年-Yemeni Troops Clash With Rebe

By Jessica Desvarieux
Cairo
29 September 2009

State media in Yemen are reporting sharp clashes between security forces and local fighters in the south of the country and in the north, where officials say 29 Shi'ite rebels were killed in a government offensive.

 
Yemeni soldier fires against targets of Yemeni Shiite rebels in Saada province, Yemen
(File Photo - 31 Aug 2009)
 
Yemeni state-run SABA news agency says the army clashed with rebel activists¹ in the country's south and north.

Military sources say the army fired at Shi'ite rebels in Harf Sufyan as well as on the northern outskirts² of Saada city. SANA news agency reported that 29 Shi'ite Zaidi rebels were killed.

Zaidis dominate Yemen's mountainous northwest, but they are a minority in the country as a whole. Since 2004, the rebels have been fighting against what they say is government oppression.

In Monday's offensive, military officials say rebel leaders, including Abdullah Ali al-Qallat, were among those killed. The news agency did not report any troop causalities.

Senior lecturer at Durham University Christopher Davidson says that these clashes go beyond internal conflict.

"For the international community there's enormous significance as well as is the case with most domestic struggles in the Middle East, there's something of a proxy³ war between Iraq and Iran involved," he said. "There are claims being made that the rebels are being funded and equipped by Iran and also the Shi'ite clerics in Iraq too. "

In southern Yemen, SABA news agency reported that separatist rebels opened fire on troops which prompted the Yemeni army to retaliate⁴.

After the clashes on Tuesday, security forces arrested about 30 people who they say are connected to criminal activity.

There was no independent confirmation⁵ of the reports.

The reported clashes are the first since August 23 when a protester was killed by Yemeni police at a demonstration⁶ over water shortages in southern Yemen.

Christopher Davidson says the international community should focus its attention on Yemen because of the humanitarian⁷ issues that are related to the fighting.

"The United Nations aid agencies have said that thousands of people have had to flee their homes, and campaigns have been raised to get money into Yemen. So there's a humanitarian crisis in the making as well," he said.

Over the past five years, intermittent⁸ clashes in Yemen between government forces and rebels have displaced an estimated 150,000 people. 

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

4 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 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。

7 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

8 intermittent   

adj.间歇的，断断续续的

参考例句：

• Did you hear the intermittent sound outside?你听见外面时断时续的声音了吗？
• In the daytime intermittent rains freshened all the earth.白天里，时断时续地下着雨，使整个大地都生气勃勃了。