VOA慢速英语:也门寻求外界帮助对抗南下胡塞叛军

Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s president fought off Houthi rebels early Monday. Militia and security officials said the rebels had been sent toward the southern city of Aden where President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi had taken refuge.

效忠于也门总统的士兵战士周一早些时候击退了胡塞叛军。民兵团体和安全官员说叛军被派往了也门总统哈迪避难的南部城市。

The majority of Yemenis are Sunni Muslims. The Houthis are Shi’ites, and get support from Iran. The rebels had agreed to share power with President Hadi after they seized the capital, Sana’a, last September.

也门人大部分为逊尼派穆斯林人。胡塞人是什叶派人，并且得到了来自伊朗方面的支持。叛军在去年九月份占领首都萨那之后同意与总统哈迪分享权力。

Anti-Houthi protesters carry an injured fellow protester during clashes with Houthi fighters in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz, March 22, 2015. (REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub)

Speaking from Aden, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Riyadh Yasin asked the Gulf Cooperation Council for help with troops to control the Houthi’s expansion.

在亚丁的讲话中，也门外交部长Riyadh Yasin向海湾合作委员会寻求帮助来共同对抗胡塞组织的扩张。

Meanwhile, the British government withdrew the last of its special forces from Yemen, according to Reuters. This came after the U.S. pulled out all remaining personnel over the weekend.

同时据路透社报道英国政府从也门撤出了最后一支特种部队。此举发生在美国方面上周撤离所有军事人员之后。

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the relocation was due to “the deteriorating security situation in Yemen.”

美国国务院在一份声明中说撤军这一选择是也门日益动荡的局势所迫。

Afghan leaders want slower withdrawal of US forces

阿富汗领导人希望美国方面延迟撤军计划

Afghanistan’s leaders are in the United States this week. Observers say they expect President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to ask American officials to slow the withdrawal of U.S. forces from their country.

阿富汗领导人这周对美国进行了访问。观察人士说其预想阿富汗总统Ashraf Ghani和首席执行官Abdullah Abdullah会要求美国方面延迟从阿富汗撤军的计划。

The Afghan leaders are to meet Tuesday with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Obama administration has said extremists in Afghanistan are a threat to American interests.

阿富汗领导人在周二的时候会见了美国总统奥巴马和副总统拜登。奥巴马政府已经表示阿富汗极端分子对美国利益存在威胁。

On Wednesday, Mr. Ghani will speak to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

周三时候Ghani将会在美国国会上讲话。

Republican Senator Ted Cruz to run for president

共和党参议员特德克鲁兹决定参与总统竞选

Also in the United States, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has announced he is a candidate for president. Senator Cruz launched his campaign for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination early Monday. He made it official in a message and video on Twitter.

德克萨斯州参议员特德克鲁兹已经证实自己为总统候选人。克鲁兹周一早些时候推出了共和党总统提名竞选活动。他在推特上发布了官方消息和视频。

Mr. Cruz is 44 years old. He joined the Senate in 2013. Several other Republicans are expected to announce their candidacies in the next few weeks.

克鲁兹今年44岁，在2013年加入参议员。其他几位共和党人预计在接下来的几周宣布竞选。

Okinawa governor stops work on new US military base

冲绳县知事下令停止美国军事基地工作

The governor of the Japanese island of Okinawa has ordered work suspended at the planned home of a new United States military base. Governor Takeshi Onaga said a concrete block thrown into the sea for testing had damaged a coral reef.

日本冲绳县知事已经下令暂停建立新的美军基地的计划。Takeshi Onaga县长说投进海里用来测试的混凝土土块对珊瑚礁有危害。

In Tokyo, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary told reporters that the work on the base cannot be suspended because officials in Okinawa already agreed to it.

Japan and the United States want to move the Futenma air base from a heavily populated area to the coast because of problems with noise, pollution and high crime.

在东京，日本内阁秘书长告诉记者军事基地建设工作不会暂停。日本和美国方面考虑到噪音，污染和高犯罪率，希望将普天间空军基地从一个人口稠密地区转移到沿海地区。

Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of Singapore, has died

新加坡前总理李光耀去世

Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore, died on Monday. He was 91 years old.

李光耀是现代新加坡的创始人，于周一去世，享年91岁。

Mr. Lee led the country from 1959 to 1990. He was admitted to Singapore General Hospital in early February with severe pneumonia. He was later placed on life support equipment.

李光耀从1959年到1990年期间掌权，并正式在二月份早些时候因为重症肺炎在新加坡总医院住院治疗。后来依靠医疗设备维持生命。

The government has declared a state of mourning until his funeral next Sunday.

政府已经宣布国家哀悼日将持续到下周日，并于周日举行国葬。

I’m Anne Ball.

This newscast was based on reports from VOA’s News Division. Christopher Cruise wrote it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

militia – n. an army of citizens instead of professional soldiers; an armed force or private army

control – v. to direct; to have power over

interest(s) – n. what is important to someone; a share in owning a business

campaign – n. competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; a connected series of military actions during a war