VOA慢速英语2014 伊拉克总理马利基决定下台

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki to Step Down 伊拉克总理马利基决定下台

Obama Promises Support for Iraqis, Maliki Agrees to Step Aside

The Iraqi state television network Iraqiya reported late on Thursday that Nouri al-Maliki has “relinquished the post of prime minister.”

Mr. Maliki said he would support the nomination¹ of Haider al-Abidi to be the next prime minister.  The news came shortly after Mr. Obama urged Iraqis to come together in support of Mr. Abadi’s effort to form a government. 

Mr. Obama also said the refugee situation on Mount Sinjar had greatly improved. Thousands of Yazidi refugees had fled to that area to attacks by members of the Islamic State militant² group.

U.S. military and civilian³ advisers⁴ visited northern Iraq Wednesday.  They informed the president that most Yazidi refugees had already left the mountain.  And those who chose to stay were in good condition.

But, the president said, “the situation remains⁵ dire” in other parts of Iraq.  He said the U.S. would continue to work with its international partners to support Iraqis in the fight against the Islamic State militants⁶.

Obama Asks Justice Department to Investigate Shooting in Missouri

Mr. Obama has directed the Justice Department to investigate the shooting of Michael Brown, a black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.

The shooting resulted in a fourth straight night of protest.  The protest turned violent Wednesday night when police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and smoke bombs at the crowd.

Top U.S. Military General Visits Vietnam

The United States’ top military officer, Martin Dempsey, is in Vietnam for talks with officials there about expanding defense⁷ ties. The increased cooperation comes as Vietnam is involved in a territorial⁸ dispute with China in the South China Sea.

Trade between the U.S. and Vietnam started in 1995.  However, the U.S. has continued with a 1975 ban on sales of weapons to Vietnam.

Pope Francis Visits South Korea

Pope Francis said talk, not shows of force, will help bring peace to the North and South Korea. He spoke⁹ at the start of a five-day visit to South Korea.

Earlier Thursday, North Korea fired five missiles into the sea.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

5 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。

6 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。