16 August, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians on Friday answered calls for a "Day of Rage" with protests across the country. The marches were the idea of the Muslim Brotherhood movement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. They took place two days after Egyptian police destroyed two large pro-Morsi camps in Cairo. The police operation left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.

The protesters were demanding that Egypt's new government release the ousted president and other leaders of the Brotherhood. The Egyptian army has held Mr. Morsi since it removed him from office early last month.

In recent days, violence between civilian groups has increased. Christians reported that their religious centers were attacked on Thursday. Some Egyptians raided and set fire to two government offices in Giza, a city across the Nile River from Cairo. Government employee Fehmi Hassan says the attackers were supporters of the ousted president.

"Today, about a thousand supporters came and broke the exterior fence and hurled stones at the building, and they set fire to the governor's office, the auditing office and all the governor's cars."

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the violence in Egypt. The Council expressed sympathy to the victims and regret for the loss of life. It also called for an end to violence by all groups in Egypt.

The United States and other countries have condemned attacks on Mr. Morsi's supporters. On Thursday, President Obama criticized the violence. He also cancelled a major joint military exercise with Egypt.

"While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back."

Some observers have criticized Mr. Obama's statements on Egypt. They say the United States is showing support for the Egyptian military if it does not take stronger action.

Saba Mahmood is with the University of California at Berkeley. She says the United States can pressure the military-supported government in Egypt to end the violence.

"If the United States is actually interested in instituting any kind of democratic change, they hold a very crucial card in this, which is over $1.8 billion of annual military aid that the United States gives to Egypt. They can simply say that we will suspend that aid unless there is an immediate dissolution of this intense violence."

Others see hope for the competing forces in Egypt to avoid civil war and carry out the reforms that Egyptians wanted in 2011. That year, Egypt's military answered huge protests by supporting the ouster of long-time President Hosni Mubarak.

Stephen Zunes chairs the Middle Eastern Studies program at the University of San Francisco. He says civil society has been growing stronger in Egypt and across the Arab world.

"More and more people realize that they are ultimately those who must decide their own fate. And so as tragic as the recent events have been, it is just not the final word."

Professor Zunes says it is not only the Islamists who are affected by the suppression of dissent. And he says democracy will come to Egypt not by suppressing Islamists but by organizing democratic forces.

"The younger generation of Egyptians do want a future that is based on democracy and social justice."

And that's In the News from VOA Learning English, written by Onka Dekker. I'm Steve Ember.

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。

Tens of thousands of Egyptians on Friday answered calls for a "Day of Rage" with protests across the country. The marches were the idea of the Muslim Brotherhood movement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. They took place two days after Egyptian police destroyed two large pro-Morsi camps in Cairo. The police operation left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.

上周五，数万名埃及人在全国各地以示威响应了“愤怒日”的号召。这次游行是下台总统穆尔西所属的穆斯林兄弟会运动的主意。事情发生在埃及警察打掉了开罗两大亲穆尔西营地之后的两天。警方的那次行动造成数百人死亡，数千人受伤。

The protesters were demanding that Egypt's new government release the ousted president and other leaders of the Brotherhood. The Egyptian army has held Mr. Morsi since it removed him from office early last month.

示威者要求埃及新政府释放被推翻的穆尔西总统及穆斯林兄弟会的其他领导人。埃及军队从上月初推翻穆尔西后一直扣留着他。

In recent days, violence between civilian groups has increased. Christians reported that their religious centers were attacked on Thursday. Some Egyptians raided and set fire to two government offices in Giza, a city across the Nile River from Cairo. Government employee Fehmi Hassan says the attackers were supporters of the ousted president.

最近几天，民间团体之间的暴力有所增加。基督教徒报道称，周四他们的宗教中心被袭击。一些埃及人袭击了吉萨(Giza)的两处政府办公室并纵火。吉萨是从开罗横跨尼罗河的一座城市。政府雇员费赫米哈桑(Fehmi Hassan)说，袭击者是下台总统穆尔西的支持者。

"Today, about a thousand supporters came and broke the exterior fence and hurled stones at the building, and they set fire to the governor's office, the auditing office and all the governor's cars."

他说，“今天，大约一千名支持者过来，打破外墙围栏，向建筑物投掷石块，并纵火点燃了总督办公室，审计办公室和总督的车。”

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the violence in Egypt. The Council expressed sympathy to the victims and regret for the loss of life. It also called for an end to violence by all groups in Egypt.

联合国安理会召开紧急会议商讨埃及的暴力事件。安理会向受害者表示了同情，对生命的消逝表示遗憾。它还呼吁埃及各方结束暴力。

The United States and other countries have condemned attacks on Mr. Morsi's supporters. On Thursday, President Obama criticized the violence. He also cancelled a major joint military exercise with Egypt.

美国和其它国家纷纷谴责穆尔西支持者的攻击行动。上周四，奥巴马总统对暴力事件提出批评。他还取消了与埃及一次重要的联合军事演习。

"While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back."

他说，“虽然我们想要维持与埃及的关系，但是当平民在街上被打死，人民的权利在倒退，我们传统的合作无法如往常般继续。”

Some observers have criticized Mr. Obama's statements on Egypt. They say the United States is showing support for the Egyptian military if it does not take stronger action.

一些观察人士批评了奥巴马就埃及的言论。他们表示，如果美国不采取更有力的行动，就是在向埃及军方展示支持。

Saba Mahmood is with the University of California at Berkeley. She says the United States can pressure the military-supported government in Egypt to end the violence.

萨巴·马哈茂德(Saba Mahmood)就职于加州大学伯克利分校。她说，美国可以向埃及军方支持的政府施压以结束暴力。

"If the United States is actually interested in instituting any kind of democratic change, they hold a very crucial card in this, which is over $1.8 billion of annual military aid that the United States gives to Egypt. They can simply say that we will suspend that aid unless there is an immediate dissolution of this intense violence."

她说，“如果美国确实对任何一种民主变革感兴趣，他们有张关键牌，那就是美国每年向埃及提供的超过18亿美元的军事援助。他们可以直接告知埃及，除非这种过激的暴力行动立即解除，否则美国将暂停援助。”

Others see hope for the competing forces in Egypt to avoid civil war and carry out the reforms that Egyptians wanted in 2011. That year, Egypt's military answered huge protests by supporting the ouster of long-time President Hosni Mubarak.

其他人看到了埃及2011年避免内战和执行埃及人想要的变革的竞争力。那年，埃及军方以支持推翻长期统治的穆巴拉克回应了巨大的抗议。

Stephen Zunes chairs the Middle Eastern Studies program at the University of San Francisco. He says civil society has been growing stronger in Egypt and across the Arab world.

斯蒂芬(Stephen Zunes)主持着旧金山大学中东研究项目。他表示，埃及和整个阿拉伯世界的公民社会不断在发展壮大。

"More and more people realize that they are ultimately those who must decide their own fate. And so as tragic as the recent events have been, it is just not the final word."

他说，“越来越多的人认识到，最终他们必须自己决定自己的命运。虽然最近发生的事件如此悲惨，但它不是最终结局。”

Professor Zunes says it is not only the Islamists who are affected by the suppression of dissent. And he says democracy will come to Egypt not by suppressing Islamists but by organizing democratic forces.

Zunes教授表示，不只是伊斯兰主义者受到压制反对派的影响。他还表示，民主来到埃及，不是通过压制伊斯兰主义者，而是通过组织起民主力量。

"The younger generation of Egyptians do want a future that is based on democracy and social justice."

他说，“埃及年轻一代都想要一个基于民主和社会正义的未来。”