VOA标准英语2009年-Libyan Leader Gadhafi Presides Over Mauritania

Libyan head of state Moammar Gadhafi is in Mauritania, where he opened multi-lateral talks aimed at resolving the months-old political crisis there.
　
Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi (file photo)

In his capacity as current head of the African Union, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has opened talks in Mauritania with representatives of the deposed¹ president and the armed forces leader that seized power last August in a bloodless coup².

A Gadhafi spokesman announced that all parties had agreed to pre-conditions in a meeting at a conference center in Nouakchott, and that a memorandum³ of understanding for the talks had been signed.

In an attempt to establish a dialogue, Mr. Gadhafi met last week in Libya with Sidi Mohamed Ould Sheikh Abdallahi, Mauritania's first democratically-elected president, who was toppled last August in a bloodless coup led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

The parties, which include a coalition⁴ of political parties opposing the coup, representatives of the military junta⁵ now in charge of the country, and the former elected government, all insisted on addressing certain issues before beginning talks.

Mauritanian law prevents members of the military from running for political office. One of the sticking points of the discussions is a proposal to open the election to all Mauritanians, paving the way for General Aziz's candidacy. Members of the political class would prefer to see the ban on his candidacy upheld.

Late Tuesday, Colonel Gadhafi led a heavily attended prayer service at the national stadium to honor the anniversary of the birth of Mohammed.

Mr. Gadhafi was accompanied at the service by representatives of all the parties involved in the talks, including junta leader Aziz. It was the first time military and political leaders had come together since the coup. Mr. Abdallahi was the only important absence, having returned to his native village after arriving from Libya.

During the service, the Libyan leader reiterated⁶ his belief that what he calls "outside parties" are attempting to influence events in Mauritania, and called once again for an African solution to the crisis.

Junta leader Aziz has repeatedly refused demands from elements of the international community to restore democratically-elected Abdallahi to power. The European Union has threatened sanctions, and the United States has withheld⁷ millions of dollars in aid and funds for military cooperation.

The African Union has imposed its own sanctions, and after a February meeting in Paris, called for Mr. Gadhafi, as the current head, to seek out a solution that will be acceptable to Mauritanian stakeholders and the international community.

1 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

3 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

4 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。

5 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

6 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

7 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》