VOA标准英语2013--Cairo Merchants Seek Calm after Violence

 

Cairo Merchants Seek Calm after Violence

People in a shopping district in Cairo say they are tired of the violence.

After weeks of upheaval¹, shopkeeper Mohamed Ali Mohamed says he just wants life to return to normal.

"As an Egyptian, of course, I am very worried and concerned about what is happening in Cairo, and hope and pray to God that stability is restored," he said. 

Many people here support the military and Egypt's Interim² President Adly Mansour.

Hajj Hosni Mahmoud, who owns a coffee shop, says no-one can impose their will on the Egyptian people.

“We will appoint a prime minister, and we have a president, we have a coalition³, and we will do what we want, despite what anybody else wants. We are Egyptians and we are free," he said. 

The interim president and the military have called for restraint after Monday's bloody⁴ clashes between Egyptian soldiers and supporters of ousted⁵ President Mohamed Moursi.  The Egyptian Health Ministry⁶ says more than 50 people were killed in the clashes.

The Muslim Brotherhood⁷ says the military attacked first, a charge the military has denied.  

Brotherhood supporter Mohamed Rasmy says those killed were murdered by the military.

“They do not want us to take our president back after the coup⁸ happened. So, they want to get rid of us, but we did not expect them to murder us. We just expected them to, you know, throw some gas grenades or water - not to murder us," he said. 

Some  accuse the army of opening fire while they were praying in front of Republican Guard headquarters, where some believe ousted President Mohamed Moursy is being held.

1 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

2 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。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 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。

6 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。

7 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

8 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。