2006年VOA标准英语-Somalia's Islamists Deny Plans to Attack Ethiop

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
12 October 2006

A high-ranking member of the Islamist group that controls Somalia's capital, says it is not planning an attack on neighboring Ethiopia. Fears of such an attack were raised when a leader of the Islamist group declared "holy war" on Ethiopia.

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In a telephone interview with VOA, the official in charge of the Islamic court's foreign affairs, Ibrahim Addou, dismissed mounting concerns in Ethiopia and abroad that the Islamists may be planning to carry out attacks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and elsewhere in the country.

 
Militiamen of the Islamic Court patrol the streets of Mogadishu (file photo)
  
The Islamists, who have taken control of Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia, claim Ethiopia has sent troops into Somalia to support the weak, but internationally backed transitional government. Ethiopia denies having sent its troops across the border.

Addou told VOA that while the Islamists do not intend to attack Ethiopia, they would be prepared to defend the territory they control in Somalia.

"I don't want to discuss military plans on the air," he said. "However, we are not going anywhere. Our objective is to create peace and stability in Somalia, and establish good working relationship with our neighbors. So, we are not going outside Somalia."

The Islamists made their declaration of "holy war" after they accused Ethiopian troops of helping¹ the forces of Somalia's secular² government in Baidoa briefly³ seize a town called Buur Hakaba, controlled by pro-Islamist fighters.

Government and military officials in Baidoa confirmed that their forces took the town. But they denied that Ethiopian troops were with them.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi subsequently acknowledged that some Ethiopian military advisors⁴ are in the town of Baidoa, but he says he has no troops inside Somalia.

Since the Islamists seized power in June from factional leaders in Mogadishu, various leaders have repeatedly accused largely Christian⁵ Ethiopia of sending troops over the border and trying to provoke a conflict.

Addou, who is a naturalized American citizen, says Somalis have no choice but to defend themselves.

"Ethiopia is just trying to do everything possible to create instability in Somalia," he said. "As you know, Ethiopia is a land-locked country. So, Ethiopia is desperately⁶ trying to conquer Somalia by force to use its ports. And so, we have decided⁷ to defend our country."

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed during a news conference, Oct. 9, 2006 in Mogadishu   
  
But the Islamists' declaration of a jihad, or holy war, heightened concern because the message was delivered by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who is viewed as a moderate voice inside the courts. To emphasize the Islamists' anger, Ahmed appeared at a press conference wearing combat fatigues⁸ and brandishing⁹ an AK-47 assault rifle.

Western diplomats¹⁰ and observers have urged Ethiopia to remain neutral, warning that military incursions into Somalia could give hardliners inside the Islamic courts an excuse to open the way for foreign fighters and create a new battleground in the war on terror.

Ethiopia says the Islamists are led by terrorists, and it will not tolerate a fundamentalist Muslim state as its neighbor.

The United States has accused the Islamic movement of supporting al-Qaida terrorists and planning to turn Somalia into a Taleban-style Islamic state.

Addou said the Islamists have no connection with any outside groups, and want to normalize relations with the rest of the world.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

3 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

4 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 fatigues   

n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服

参考例句：

• The patient fatigues easily. 病人容易疲劳。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Instead of training the men were put on fatigues/fatigue duty. 那些士兵没有接受训练，而是派去做杂务。 来自辞典例句

9 brandishing   

v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀

参考例句：

• The horseman came up to Robin Hood, brandishing his sword. 那个骑士挥舞着剑，来到罗宾汉面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife. 他挥舞着一把小刀，出现在休息室里。 来自辞典例句

10 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》