VOA标准英语2010年-Madagascar Military Negotiates with Mu

In Madagascar, military supporters of President Andry Rajoelina say they are negotiating with a group of officers who declared a coup¹ Wednesday. The coup attempt came as the country voted on a new constitution.
The streets of Antananarivo were calm and stores and businesses opened as usual one day after a group of military officers announced they were suspending the transitional government of Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina.
Rebel spokesman Colonel Charles Andrianasoavina called for all the armed forces to support the overthrow². He said the military council was seizing power because of the political situation, which has still not been resolved after 18 months.
Prime Minister Camille Vital said loyalist officers were talking to the mutineers, whom he said numbered no more than 20. But he said his government would take a tougher stance if the talks failed.
The mutiny took place as voters decided³ in a referendum whether to adopt a new constitution. Supporters hoped the new charter would end a political crisis provoked by a military-backed coup last year that brought Rajoelina to power.
Legal expert Sohandra Rebenarivo said the main purpose of the proposed charter is to consolidate⁴ Mr. Rajoelina's power.
"Voting yes on this constitution was voting yes for the transition government," said Rebenarivo. "And they are legitimized as the government in power until such time as they decide to hold legislative⁵ and presidential elections. And there is no time limit for them to do that."She said the new constitution gives parliament the power to name the prime minister but otherwise makes few substantive⁶ changes to the previous document.
The new charter also reduces the minimum age of presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years. Rajoelina, 36, has said he is not a candidate for the presidency⁷.
The proposed constitution would also require presidential candidates to live in the country for at least six months prior to the election. This would prevent former president Marc Ravalomana from running for the office. He has been in exile since he was ousted⁸ in last year's coup.
The referendum was rejected by three main opposition⁹ parties led by Ravalomanana and two other former presidents. It has also been dismissed by the African Union, the Southern Africa Development Community and most Western governments.
Some voters expressed enthusiasm for the new constitution, but Rebenarivo said many did not go to the polls.
"The reaction is muted," noted¹⁰ Rebenarivo. "There is absolutely no enthusiasm because I think everyone knows that we are not out of the woods and it is anyone's guess what is going to happen in the weeks and months ahead."Following last year's coup, Western governments suspended most non-humanitarian aid and Madagascar's economy has been hard hit by fall in foreign investment.
Mr. Rajoelina says he is prepared to move ahead without his country's traditional allies and reportedly has lined up several major deals, primarily with Chinese investors¹¹.

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 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

6 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

7 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会