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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Abuja
20 April 2007
Violence and delays are marking the hours before Saturday's (today's) presidential vote in Nigeria. Militant1 leaders in the oil-rich but restive2 south are vowing3 to disrupt the process. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Abuja.
Heavy gunfire broke out late Friday in many parts of the capital of Bayelsa state, Yenagoa, including at a hotel where the governor of the state and ruling party vice4 presidential candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, is staying.
His aides say he escaped unharmed and that he was taken to a safe location
Witnesses said a police office, electoral offices and government buildings were also attacked.
Ethnic5 Ijaw militants6 in the state have said they were angry at the alleged7 massive fraud that took place during last week's state elections. They also said many polling centers in ethnic Ijaw areas never opened.
The militants say they are fighting for a more equitable8 share of oil wealth.
Troops guard election office in Lagos, Nigeria |
The opening of the polls has been delayed until ten in the morning, as ballots9 had to be flown from overseas to include a reinstated presidential candidate, controversial Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Some observers said they were worried when the ballots would arrive at remote polling centers.
If voting does take place, the front-runners in a crowded field are the ruling party's candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari.
Information Minister Frank Nweke says Nigeria is doing the best it can in difficult conditions. "The federal government calls on all Nigerians to keep faith with our hard won democracy, and we also want to call on our international friends to ensure that democratic culture evolves in Nigeria, in the same way and manner it evolved in their respective countries through years of practice," he said.
A European Union observer said given the current circumstances it is highly unlikely the poll can be credible10.
Elections are also scheduled for a new parliament. The previous assembly rejected proposals to allow outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third elected term.
1 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
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2 restive | |
adj.不安宁的,不安静的 | |
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3 vowing | |
起誓,发誓(vow的现在分词形式) | |
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4 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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5 ethnic | |
adj.人种的,种族的,异教徒的 | |
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6 militants | |
激进分子,好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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7 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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8 equitable | |
adj.公平的;公正的 | |
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9 ballots | |
n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 );选举;选票;投票总数v.(使)投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10 credible | |
adj.可信任的,可靠的 | |
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