2006年VOA标准英语-US Official Calls for Islamic Courts to Stop Ex

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
22 June 2006

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs has called on Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts to stop taking territory in volatile¹ Somalia. The official also expressed concerns that Somalia poses a threat to regional stability and could become a haven² for terrorists.

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After months of fierce fighting, the Union of Islamic Courts defeated a group of warlords and militias³ belonging to the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism.

At the beginning of June, the Islamic courts took control of the capital Mogadishu and then Jowhar, a town that was once the temporary capital of Somalia's transitional government.

 
Jendayi Frazer 
  
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer slammed the Islamic courts for their expansion and called for them to stop that activity.

"The Union of Islamic Courts should not continue to expand into Somalia. They need to stop in their tracks where they are right now. Their movement out makes all of us question their intention, their motive⁴. It also threatens the neighborhood, it threatens their neighbors. So I think it is important for them to show a signal that they are not intending any regressive action by stopping their expansion," said Frazer.

More than 350 people were killed and more than a 1,000 wounded during fighting that took place during the past few months between militias loyal to the Union of Islamic Courts and the anti-terrorism alliance.

Media reports describe the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, formed earlier this year, as being a coalition⁵ of warlords who aim to stem what they feel is growing Islamic extremism in Somalia. The Islamic Courts Union is said to want to maintain law and order in the volatile capital.

It is widely believed that the United States provided some backing for the now defeated Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism.

When asked if this was true, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frazer told reporters at a briefing late Wednesday that the U.S. was just following its established global policy.

"We have supported everybody there who can provide us with information. It does not matter whether you are an alliance or not an alliance, in the government, not in the government. What we are trying to do is reach out to those who have information and develop relationships to get the information," she said.

Frazer also said that the U.S. is concerned that Somalia could become a haven for terrorists, and that Somali poses a threat to regional stability by spreading guns and criminal activity to neighboring countries.

The Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs is meeting government officials in Uganda, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia to discuss ways to support the transitional government and to stop the fighting.

Since civil war broke out in 1991, warlords and their militias have battled with each other and civilians⁶ to control different parts of Somalia.

A transitional parliament was formed in Kenya more than a year ago following a two-year peace process.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 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。

3 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

4 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

5 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。

6 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。