VOA标准英语2012--Arab League to Hold Review Session on Syria Observers' Work

Arab League to Hold Review Session on Syria Observers' Work

 

Amid mounting criticism over the effectiveness of its observer mission to Syria, the Arab League has called an urgent meeting Saturday to discuss the future role of its team. France's foreign minister and Syrian opposition¹ groups say the League mission has done little to quell² violence against civilians³.

Women in the Syrian city of Daraa told Arab League observers Tuesday about an alleged⁴ shooting by government security forces. Videos on Syrian opposition websites show citizens complaining about the government crackdown to League observers.

Responding to criticism over ongoing⁵ violence by Syrian security forces, the Arab League has called a foreign ministers' meeting for Saturday to discuss the future of its observer team. Arab League chief Nabil al Araby told journalists this week that progress has been made, but that violence continues in Syria, and must be stopped.

Witnesses described people panicking Tuesday afternoon in the city of Hama, as Syrian security forces fired at a large crowd of protesters. Opposition sources said at least several people were killed. It was not possible to confirm the casualty figures.

Earlier Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe criticized the Arab League mission and said the conditions of its deployment⁶ should be re-examined.

Arab League monitors check Al-Sabil area, in Daraa, Syria, January 3, 2012.

Juppe said more than 5,000 Syrians have died and that the U.N. Security Council has been unable to act (because several countries are blocking action). He added that France is pleased by the Arab League observer mission, but that the conditions of the mission need to be re-examined.

Opposition leaders complain that the Syrian government is flouting⁷ the observer mission by hiding tanks behind sandbags, sequestering⁸ thousands of prisoners in places off limits to observers, and using snipers to fire on civilians.

Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, says that despite some accomplishments⁹, the observers have been mostly unable to compel the Syrian government to comply with the Arab League plan to halt violence against civilians:

Abou Diab says the Syrian regime has not respected the Arab League plan, which includes not only the deployment of observers, but the withdrawal¹⁰ of the army from cities, an end to killing¹¹ civilians, and the liberation of all prisoners.

Pro-Syrian government television interviewed several people who claimed that "terrorists" continue to attack government troops. The Syrian government said Tuesday that terrorists also blew up a gas pipeline¹² near the northern town of Rastan, forcing further electricity cuts nationwide.

1 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。

2 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

7 flouting   

v.藐视，轻视( flout的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• By selling alcohol to minors,the shop is deliberately flouting the law. 向未成年人出售烈性酒，是商店故意犯罪法。 来自口语例句
• By selling alcohol to minor, the shop is deliberately flouting the law. 向未成年人出售烈性酒，是商店故意犯法。 来自互联网

8 sequestering   

v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的现在分词 )；扣押

参考例句：

• Once installed the wood at further reducing carbon through the sequestering process. 本木料一旦植入，将通过一系列物理化学过程进一步有效降低碳量。 来自互联网
• Sequestration and dispersion force of different kinds of sequestering a-gent are tested. 本文分别测定了几种不同类型络合剂的络合能力和分散能力。 来自互联网

9 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。