人生|言叶

TEXT

A new parliament has begun its first session in Pakistan with the deputies being sworn in. This sets the stage for a likely confrontation between Pesident Musharraf and the new coalition government, as Babara Plats reports from Islamabad.
The new national assembly opens with the promise of restoring democracy after eight years of military rule under President Musharraf. The government willl be formed by the Pakistan People's Party of the assassinated Benazir Bhutto and the Muslim League of the former Prime Minister Minister Nawaz Sharif. They were bitter enemies in the 1990s, but have now vowed to work together to strengthen Parliament by reducing the president's powers. The biggest threat he faces is their pledge to restore some 60 judges he purged during a state of emergency last year, apparently as they were poised to rule him ineligible for another presidencial term.

A suicide bomb attack came at a NATO military convoy at southern Afghanistan has killed three soldiers. The Danish military says two of its soldiers were among the dead. There are also unconformed reports of civilian casulties. The attack took place in Helmand province where British soldiers make up the bulk of the NATO-led international force.

The American Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced visit. He comes just ahead of the 5th anniversary of the US-led invasion. Mr. Cheney is expected to meet, among others, the American military commander General David Petraeus and the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

Voters in France have delivered a rebuke to President Nicolas Sarkozy handing substantial gains to the opposition Socialists. With nearly all the results declared in local elections, the left is taking control of a string of important cities. The outcome is likely to make it harder for the government to persue its reform programme. The French Prime Minister Francois Fillon insisted the results shouldn't be seen as a comment on government policies.
In 2001, the right wing and center largely won the municipal elections. Today the left wing has regain some ground. Each city, each district has its own particular issues. So it's a mistake to draw conclusions at the national level from this vote.

Tibetan exiles in India say that they've heard reports that the authorities in the Tibetan capital of Lasa have been rounding up political dissidents. China has given protestors in the city until midnight tonight local time to give themselves up or face consequences. The Tibetan sources say that although Lhasa itself is quiet, there've been a number of demonstrations elsewhere.

The lawyer representing an alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout who was arrested in Thailand ten days ago has complained that the authorities have still not laid any specific charges against his client. Mr Bout was detained in a Bangkok hotel after an operation by US agents posing as Colombian rebels trying to buy weapons. His lawyer said the Thai authorities were pressing Mr Bout to agree to go to the United States which is seeking his extradition.

NOTE

swear in =  administer a legal or official oath to: swear in a mayor => be sworn in
set the stage for ...

session => assembly => conference => meeting => summit
bitter enemies
vow to do => be bound to do / be about to do
purge his enemies from the Party => restore
be poised to ...
rule sb. ineligible for ...

bulk = [sing.] the ~ (of sth) the main part of sth; most of sth:
The bulk of the population lives in cities.

deliver a rebuke to sb.
hand substantial gains to ...
take control of ...
a string of ...
local elections => municipal elections => parliamentary elections

round up ...(eg. political dissidents)

lay ...(eg. criminal/terrorism/murder/assault) charges against sb.
pose as sb.
press sb. to do