VOA标准英语2011--Anti-Gadhafi Forces Say Ready to Take Pr

Anti-Gadhafi Forces Say Ready to Take Pro-Gadhafi Strongholds

The head of Libya's National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, says the deadline has passed for a negotiated surrender of three cities held by pro-Gadhafi forces - Bani Walid, Sirte and Sabha. Anti-Gadhafi fighters outside Sirte, Libya's second-largest city, said they are awaiting orders to start the attack.
A checkpoint between the central Libyan city of Misrata and Sirte, the birthplace of ousted¹ leader Moammar Gadhafi.
This point is strategic because it also lies near the turnoff to another Gadhafi stronghold, Bani Walid, to the south.
Adel Ahmed commands this unit. He says his fighters are just waiting for the order to advance on Sirte, which he says has been without water or electricity for days“We do not know exactly what is happening in Sirte, but it looks like a bad situation. So we are just waiting," he said.
The fighters, all volunteers like their commander, have been camped here for several weeks. Despite the harsh conditions, morale² is high.
Speaking to the fighters here, they say that they are poised³ to attack Sirte when given the command as well as Bani Walid, which is south of here.
The fighters say they think they could take Bani Walid in a few hours and Sirte in a couple of days. They say families have been coming out and this is why they have refrained from attacking.
The situation is a bit tense. They are ready to go, but the authorities here are trying to negotiate a surrender in order to spare civilian⁴ lives and any more destruction and loss of property.

1 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

2 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 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。