VOA标准英语2011--Security Forces Fire on Bahrain Mourners

Security forces have fired shots in Manama on Friday, where demonstrators were gathering¹ for an anti-government rally, in defiance² of a government ban on protests. Hospital officials say there are casualties.
Mourners began chanting opposition³ slogans during a funeral procession for three of the victims in a village outside Manama on Friday morning.
During the march, a friend of 22-year-old Mahmood Makki Abu Taki, who was one of the men killed, urged Bahrainis to continue pushing for reform.
"We are not pretending. We have rights," he said. "We are human beings and we are Bahrainis. And we will not stop this until the last person of ours will be dead. We will fight for our rights. We are sick of the promises."
VOA Photo P. Wellman
Anti-government funeral protests in Manama, February 18, 2011
Abu Taki's father, Ahmed Abu Taki also called on people to keep pressing the government for more rights. He said it is what his son would have wished for.
"I dreamed with him last night," said Ahmed Abu Taki. "He came to me and said, 'papa don't cry. Tell our brothers to continue on this way.'"
Bahrain's military took control of parts of the capital on Thursday, hours after riot police fired birdshot, rubber bullets and tear gas at a large group of anti-government protesters camped at the city's Pearl Roundabout.
Protests continued Friday across the Middle East and North Africa
Bahrain: Security forces fired shots as mourners leaving a funeral tried to return to a central square in the capital, in defiance of a government ban on protests. Witnesses say many people were wounded in the crackdown.
Yemen: At least one person was killed and eight wounded after a car passenger threw a grenade at a crowd of anti-government demonstrators in the southwestern city of Taiz. The attack took place as demonstrators took part in one of the "day of rage" rallies.
Jordan: Protests turned violent, as government supporters clashed with demonstrators calling for political reforms. Reports say at least eight people were injured when government supporters attacked the demonstrators with batons⁴.
Iran: Thousands of government supporters called for the execution of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi during prayer services in Tehran.
Egypt: Tens of thousands of people packed Cairo's Tahrir Square for a day of celebration marking one week since President Hosni Mubarak stepped down.
Libya: Human Rights Watch says Libyan security forces killed 24 protesters during Thursday's crackdown on anti-government demonstrations⁵. The U.S.-based rights group, citing witnesses, says security forces shot and killed protesters in an effort to break up "Day of Rage" demonstrations across the country.
In addition to the dead from Thursday's violence, human rights campaigners say about 60 people are still missing and hundreds are injured.
Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin⁶ Ahmed al-Khalifa defended the regime's use of force, saying it was necessary because the mostly Shi'ite demonstrators were pushing the country to the "brink⁷ of a sectarian abyss."
Shi'ite Muslims make up roughly two-thirds of Bahrain's population and say they are not given the same social benefits as the country's Sunni minority. They also accuse the government of naturalizing foreign Sunnis and giving them the top jobs in the country.
Earlier this week, 18 members of the leading Shi'ite al-Wefaq party quit parliament to protest the recent violence against demonstrators.
One of the members, Jasim Husain Ali, says the government is not doing what is best for the country.
"Bahrain is the loser," said Ali. "Bahrain's economy is the loser. Bahrain's financial sector⁸ is the loser:? investment, the country's reputation, possibly credit rating. It was really a wrong decision to go and attack civilians⁹."
The nation's main hospital was struggling Friday to deal with the mounting casualties.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

3 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。

4 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

7 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 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。