VOA标准英语2011-Tunisia Protests Call for Ruling Party to

More protests rocked the North African country of Tunisia as the prime minister prepared to name an interim¹ government.

Even before the names of the interim government were announced, Tunisians were on the streets calling for its ouster. The protesters chanting, "Go people, out with the dictatorship!" calling for the ruling RDC Party of ex-president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to leave.

Protesters chanted on the main Habib Bourguiba Boulevard in front of riot police and soldiers manning tanks, their guns at the ready. There were sounds of gunfire and helicopters flying overhead for a fourth day in a row.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, a vestige³ of the old government, is expected to name an interim Cabinet to take charge until elections, promised within two months. According to reports, a few members of the opposition⁴ are to be included, but will not occupy key portfolios⁵ such as the foreign or interior ministries⁶.

Protesters like 23-year-old Alem want all the old guard out.

"The government should be another form, not this form. It should be a saving government" Alem said.

The protesters include people of all ages, like 46-year-old Lamia who worked at the Tunisian Finance Ministry⁷, which was closed following the weekend riots and protests.

Lamia said Tunisians did not stage weeks of riots and protests aimed to oust² the old regime just to see it back again in the new interim government. She does not believe the country is ready for elections in two months. She thinks it will take at least a year to establish a real democracy.

A number of analysts and political activists have voiced the same opinion

1 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

2 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

3 vestige   

n.痕迹，遗迹，残余

参考例句：

• Some upright stones in wild places are the vestige of ancient religions.荒原上一些直立的石块是古老宗教的遗迹。
• Every vestige has been swept away.一切痕迹都被一扫而光。

4 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。

5 portfolios   

n.投资组合( portfolio的名词复数 )；（保险）业务量；（公司或机构提供的）系列产品；纸夹

参考例句：

• Price risk arises in non-trading portfolios, as well as in trading portfolios. 价格风险中出现的非贸易投资，以及在贸易投资组合。 来自互联网
• How do we fatten our portfolios and stay financially healthy? 我们怎样育肥我们的投资结构和维持财政健康呢？ 来自互联网

6 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

7 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。