VOA标准英语2011--Gadhafi Loyalists Flee in Convoy to Nige

Gadhafi Loyalists Flee in Convoy¹ to Niger

Reports that a large convoy of Moammar Gadhafi's supporters has fled Libya for Niger have angered many in the Libyan capital. Citizens want to see their former leader and those around him facing justice at home.
A convoy of some 200 armored vehicles is said to have crossed into Niger from southern Libya late Monday, possibly via Algeria. As the reports spread, so, too, did speculation² that some of the Gadhafi loyalists may be headed on to Burkina Faso, which has offered safe haven³ to the ousted⁴ leader.
Burkina Faso has straddled the line on events in Libya, recognizing the National Transitional Council, but also willing to flout⁵ its obligation to the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Gadhafi on war crimes.
Jalal al Galal, a spokesman for the provisional authorities, says the NTC wants Gadhafi to stay in Libya.
"The NTC has made it very clear all along that they requested from all the neighboring countries not to aid and abet⁶ criminals on the escape. We don't know the content of the convoy. It could be gold. It could be money. It could be members of his family. We hope that it is not members of his family and we hope it is not him," he said.
Gadhafi's whereabouts remained unknown Tuesday and early reports that he may have planned to join the convoy appear unfounded. Late Monday, his spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, also on in hiding, said the former leader remained in Libya.
Officials in Niger are quoted as saying the convoy was smaller than reported, and insisted Gadhafi was not in it.
Libyans were quick to condemn⁷ any possible escape of their former leader or his supporters. In Tripoli's central Martyr's Square, Fawzi Jobran, an accountant, said Mr. Gadhafi and his inner circle must be held accountable.
"He must be in front of the Libyan people here. It's not fair," he said. "He must bring the mafia -- those criminals -- to stay here."
Nearby, Yusef, who did not give his last name, echoed that sentiment. "For the trial, I prefer, and I pray to Allah, it will be in Libya. Because in The Hague, there will be a lot of respect [for Gadhafi]. He will not feel suffering. But in Libya, he will know how suffering we were," Yusef stated.
Several members of Gadhafi's immediate⁸ family have already taken refuge in neighboring Algeria. The incident also prompted anger from Libya's provisional authorities.
The possible movement of key ex-officials out of Libya comes as the NTC grapples with taking control of the last remaining Gadhafi-held towns. Forces loyal to the NTC continued to mass outside Bani Walid and Sirte Tuesday, giving his supporters until Saturday to lay down their arms or face an attack. Negotiations⁹ with tribal¹⁰ representatives and Gadhafi supporters have been held on and off for days.
Bani Walid tribal leader Abdul Qader Ganyeh was optimistic a confrontation¹¹ could be avoided.
Ganyeh says 90 percent of the people in the town are for a peaceful solution, and "want to be part of Libya."
The provisional leaders have also been making headway on other, practical matters. Much of Tripoli now has running water again, the supply of electricity is becoming less sporadic¹², and the mood looking forward remains¹³ upbeat.
Even Yusef, the man who wanted Gadhafi to suffer, showed his sense of humor was intact, riffing on the former leader's famous vow¹⁴ to hunt down rebels street by street, house by house, alleyway by alleyway.
"We will build our country from street to street, from house to house, zenga zenga ["alley to alley"], And this will take not a long time," Yusef said.
But he adds, once more, he really wants Gadhafi found.

1 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。

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

4 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。

5 flout   

v./n.嘲弄，愚弄，轻视

参考例句：

• Parents who flout Family Court orders may be named in the media in Australia.在澳洲父母亲若是藐视家庭法庭的裁定可能在媒体上被公布姓名。
• The foolish boy flouted his mother's advice.这个愚蠢的孩子轻视他母亲的劝告。

6 abet   

v.教唆，鼓励帮助

参考例句：

• Do not abet your friend to pry into other people's privacy.不要唆使朋友去窥探别人隐私。
• Be do grateful to those who rebuke you,because they abet your wisdom!一定要感激那些斥责你的人，因为他们助长了你的智慧！

7 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

11 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

12 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

13 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

14 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。