IN THE NEWS - New Government in Iraq

IN THE NEWS - New Government in Iraq
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Saturday, June 05, 2004

This is Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.

Iraq now has leaders in place to take power temporarily from the coalition¹ administration on June thirtieth.

 
Lakhdar Brahimi
Special United Nations diplomat² Lakhdar Brahimi urged Iraqis this week to support their new temporary government. The government will replace the American-appointed Iraqi Governing Council. The council dismissed itself on Tuesday so the new government could start work immediately.

The government is to lead Iraq until national elections take place by the end of January. One of its aims is to increase security. The new government will seek a security agreement with the United States.

Iraqi officials, American administrators³ and Mister Brahimi struggled for weeks over who to include in the new government. The Governing Council members wanted a major part in the process. But the U-N diplomat and American officials wanted to include local, tribal⁴ and religious leaders not represented on the council.

Mister Brahimi announced at a ceremony in Baghdad that Ghazi Ajil al-Yawer will be president in the new government. Mister Yawer is a Sunni tribal leader. He served on the Governing Council and had its support. But American officials and Mister Brahimi wanted Adnan Pachachi for president. Mister Pachachi is also a Sunni Muslim. He rejected the offer, however, because he lacked support from the council members.

The presidency⁵ will be largely a ceremonial position. There will also be two vice⁶ presidents.

The prime minister who will lead the temporary government is Iyad Allawi. He was appointed last week. Mister Allawi is a Shiite politician who served on the Governing Council. His party had been supported in exile by the United States Central Intelligence Agency.

Mister Allawi has criticized the United States because of the security situation in Iraq. But he says his government will not ask the American-led troops to leave during the change of power.

The thirty-two member cabinet has a mix of Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and Assyrians. They represent the many ethnic⁷ and religious groups in Iraq. Several cabinet members are women. A one-hundred member assembly will have veto power over the decisions of the cabinet.

The temporary government that takes power at the end of this month is to lead to an elected permanent government in Iraq.

 
Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer
Members of the new government said they would try to influence the wording of a U-N Security Council resolution on terms for the change of power. Mister Yawer and others want to make sure they have full control of Iraqi security forces. They also want greater control over the activities of American troops.

President Bush called the temporary government a major step toward a free Iraq.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.

1 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。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

4 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

5 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。