VOA常速英语2008年-White House Criticizes Egypt Arrests

By Scott Stearns
White House
12 March 2008

The White House is criticizing Egypt for arresting opposition¹ politicians before local elections next month. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino says President Bush expects Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to ensure that April 8 elections are free and fair.

"We are concerned by a continuing campaign of arrests in Egypt of individuals who are opponents of the current governing party and are involved in the upcoming local elections," she said. "The people of Egypt should be permitted to choose freely among competing candidates. We call on the government of Egypt to cease any actions that would compromise the ability of the Egyptian people to fully² exercise their internationally recognized human rights and to participate in a free and fair election."

Egypt's main opposition group says the Mubarak government is undermining its chances in those local elections by registering only 60 of its potential 10,000 candidates.

The parliamentary leader of the Muslim Brotherhood³, Mohammed Saad el-Katatni, says 700 of his group's potential candidates have been detained by police since last month.

The Brotherhood has been banned, and its members run as independents.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 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。