VOA标准英语2011--Sudan Blames Bombardment on Southern Agg

Sudan Blames Bombardment on Southern Aggression¹

As violence continues along Sudan's disputed north-south border, the government of Sudan has rejected U.S. President Barack Obama's demand for peace.
On the defensive² after international condemnation³ of an aerial bombing campaign in Sudan's Southern Kordofan State, the government in Khartoum is claiming the attacks were prompted by aggression on the part of south Sudan's military forces.
The clashes between the northern Sudanese Armed Forces and elements of the south's Sudan People's Liberation Army broke out two weeks ago, after attempts by the northern forces to disarm⁴ fighters in the area. According to the United Nations, some 60,000 have fled Southern Kordofan, seeking refuge from the violence.
Late Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama urged extreme caution on both sides, in an attempt to push Sudan back from the brink⁵ of war.
"There is no military solution," said Obama. "The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan must live up to their responsibilities. The government of Sudan must prevent a further escalation⁶ of this crisis by ceasing its military actions immediately including aerial bombardments, forced displacements⁷ and campaigns of intimidation⁸."
The bombings come just three weeks before south Sudan declares independence and Sudan officially splits into two nations. The separation will mark the culmination⁹ of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended two decades of civil war between the government and southern rebels.
Obama warned the leaders of both governments they faced international isolation¹⁰ should the violence continue. He further pressed the government of north Sudan, reminding leaders of the U.S. promise to normalize relations with Khartoum in return for their adherence¹¹ to the CPA.
But the government in Khartoum has rejected implications that it initiated¹² the violence. On Thursday, the Sudan Tribune reported that Sudan's Ministry¹³ of Foreign Affairs has claimed the bombardments were in retaliation¹⁴ to escalation on the part of South Sudan and attacks on local police.
In a statement issued through the Sudanese News Agency, the ministry spokesman al-Ubayid Muroah, accused the United States of using intimidation tactics against the government in Khartoum.
As the official secession of South Sudan approaches, peace appears to be deteriorating¹⁵ throughout the region, prompting fears of escalation and a return to civil war. In the disputed region of Abyei, southern army spokesman Philip Aguer reported that five northern soldiers were killed in clashes along the River Kiir on Wednesday.
Under the CPA, Abyei was supposed to hold a referendum to determine whether it remained with the north or joined an independent south. However the issue of Abyei, along with other critical issues such as border demarcation and oil revenue-sharing remain unresolved.

1 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

2 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

3 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

4 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

5 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

6 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

7 displacements   

n.取代( displacement的名词复数 )；替代；移位；免职

参考例句：

• The laws of physics are symmetrical for translational displacements. 物理定律对平移是对称的。 来自辞典例句
• We encounter only displacements of the first type. 我们只遇到第一类的驱替。 来自辞典例句

8 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

9 culmination   

n.顶点；最高潮

参考例句：

• The space race reached its culmination in the first moon walk.太空竞争以第一次在月球行走而达到顶峰。
• It may truly be regarded as the culmination of classical Greek geometry.这确实可以看成是古典希腊几何的登峰造级之作。

10 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

11 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

12 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

13 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。

14 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。