VOA标准英语2009年-AU Warns Madagascar Opposition Not to Seize Pow

The African Union Peace and Security Council, or PSC, has appealed for calm in Madagascar following President Marc Ravalomanana's resignation, and warned opposition² forces not to seize power. The Council made clear that any extraconstitutional takeover would result in swift expulsion from the continental³ body.

Africa's highest security body met for a second day Tuesday to keep abreast⁴ of fast moving events in Antananarivo. Acting⁵ PSC President, Burkina Faso's Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba said the focus of the meeting changed considerably⁶ as the day progressed.
　
Rebel soldiers loyal to opposition leader Rajoelina guard presidential office in Antananarivo, 17 Mar¹ 2009

"[In] Antanananarivo since yesterday, the president's palace has been invaded by the military. There was [gun] firing in the city and in the presidential office compound. This is the reason why we were meeting," he said. "But since we started our meeting, we heard that the president has resigned. We took note of the [resignation] of the president under the pressure of the civilian⁷ and military opposition," he added.

Zidouemba said there are still several questions to be answered before definitive⁸ conclusions can be reached. He predicted that the African Union's Peace and Security Council would be called into session again in the next day or two as circumstances surrounding President Ravalomanana's resignation become clear.

But he warned mutinous⁹ army officers and opposition leaders that any move to seize power would be considered illegitimate.

"If the military takes over, it will be a coup¹⁰ d 'etat. And as usual, we will apply the rules of the AU. All of these provisions condemn¹¹ the anti-constitutional changes of government, be they military or civilian or a combination of both. So on this, there is not a doubt and the Council is unanimous on this," he said.

Zidouemba did not specify¹² what sanctions could be imposed. But two other African countries - Guinea and Mauritania - were immediately expelled from the continental body in recent months when military officers seized power.
　
Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina arrives at a rally in Antananarivo, Madagascar, 17 Mar 2009

There was word from Antanananarivo late Tuesday that military officers were handing power to the youthful opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina.

Acting PSC Chairman Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba said that handover appears to violate Madagascar's constitution.

"We think it is unconstitutional because the constitution provides it should be the prime minister. And we know who is the prime minister, and if it's not the prime minister, it's not constitutional," he said.

The United States and the European Union have indicated they would join the African Union in ordering sanctions if anyone other than the prime minister takes power in Madagascar.

But news reports from Antanananarivo said opposition leader Andry Rajoelina walked into the presidential offices and assumed power, shortly after President Ravalomanana resigned.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 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。

3 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

4 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

5 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

6 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

7 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

8 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

9 mutinous   

adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变

参考例句：

• The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
• His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后，他所率军队出现反叛情绪。

10 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。

11 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

12 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。