2006年VOA标准英语-Terror Suspect to Lead Somali Group

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
26 June 2006
 
A recent agreement between Somalia's transitional government and the Islamic Courts may be put in jeopardy¹ following Saturday's appointment of a hard-line cleric on the United States' most wanted list to head the courts.

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Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys (File photo)   
  
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys is the leader of the Council of Islamic Courts, a new body that is to act as a kind of parliament for areas under the control of the Islamic Courts.

He replaces Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who was seen by many to be a moderate and who was involved in last week's talks between the government and the Islamic Courts.

Analyst² Richard Cornwell with the South African-based Institute for Security Studies says that Aweys' appointment and the re-structuring of the Islamic courts could reverse the gains in last week's talks.

"It now remains³ to be seen whether the agreements met with the transitional federal government in Sudan will be stuck to," he said. "They are meant to hold fresh talks beginning on the 15th of July. Whether this will happen now that the Islamic courts appear to be moving in the direction of setting up their own de facto administration I think is a very, very moot⁴ point."

Last Thursday, representatives of the Islamic courts, based in Mogadishu, and the transitional government, based in Baidoa, met with each other under the mediation⁵ of the Arab League.

The two sides agreed to recognize one another, cease hostilities⁶, and hold more talks next month.

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.

Much of southern Somalia appears to be under the control of the Islamic courts. It is not clear whether the Islamic courts will work with the fledgling transitional government, or set up an administration that would rival the government.

With Aweys' appointment, it is even less likely that the Islamic courts and the government, headed by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, will work together.

Aweys and Mr. Yusuf are bitter enemies.

In the 1990s, Aweys headed the radical⁷ al-Itihaad al-Islamiyah group in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. Al-Itihaad was believed to have links to al-Qaida, and with the backing of neighboring Ethiopia, President Yusuf led a successful campaign to crush the group.

Awyes is on record as saying the Yusuf government could not be supported because it is organized along secular⁸ lines.

Aweys is also on Washington's list of most wanted terrorists for his alleged⁹ links to the al-Qaida network. Many diplomats¹⁰ fear his appointment ushers¹¹ in a Taleban-like safe haven¹² for terrorists.

Since civil war broke out in 1991, warlords and their militias¹³ have battled with each other and civilians¹⁴ to control different parts of the country. A transitional Somali parliament was formed in Kenya more than a year ago following a two-year peace process

1 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 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。

4 moot   

v.提出；adj.未决议的；n.大会；辩论会

参考例句：

• The question mooted in the board meeting is still a moot point.那个在董事会上提出讨论的问题仍未决的。
• The oil versus nuclear equation is largely moot.石油和核能之间的关系还很有争议。

5 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

6 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

7 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

8 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

9 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

10 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 ushers   

n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Seats clicked, ushers bowed while he looked blandly on. 座位发出啪啦啪啦的声响，领座员朝客人们鞠躬，而他在一边温和殷勤地看着。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• The minister then offers a brief prayer of dedication, and the ushers return to their seats. 于是牧师又做了一个简短的奉献的祈祷，各招待员也各自回座位。 来自辞典例句

12 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。

13 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

14 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。