09-20-07

聯合國安理會延長北約在阿富汗使命 (UN Security Council Extends NATO Mission in Afghanistan)

聯合國安理會將北約領導的部隊阿富汗行動的授權延長一年。安理會15個成員中有14個國家星期三晚間對這項決議表示贊成，但是俄羅斯棄權，表示對決議內容有不同意見。

俄羅斯常駐聯合國代表丘爾金錶示，莫斯科方面支援北約在阿富汗的行動，但是對決議中提到感謝日本做出貢獻表示異議。日本的反對派政治人士威脅阻止議會批准日本對北約在阿富汗行動的海上後勤支援。

丘爾金說，聯合國的決議不應當著重考慮日本國內的情勢。

星期三早些時候，英國領導的部隊對聚集在阿富汗南部動蕩不安的赫爾曼德省的塔利班分子展開了一輪新的攻勢。

The U.N. Security Council has extended its authorization of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan for one more year. Fourteen of the Council's 15 members approved the resolution late Wednesday, but Russia abstained, citing a disagreement about the text.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow supports the NATO mission in Afghanistan, but voiced concern about a clause thanking Japan for its support. Japanese opposition politicians have threatened to block parliamentary approval of Japan's naval support of operations in Afghanistan.

Churkin said the U.N. resolution should not give priority to "domestic considerations" in Japan.

Earlier Wednesday, British-led forces launched a new offensive against Taleban fighters in Afghanistan's violent southern province of Helmand.

緬甸僧侶第三天舉行反政府示威 (Burmese Monks Hold Third Day of Anti-Government Marches)

緬甸數百名佛教僧侶星期四走在仰光街頭舉行示威，這是至少10年來爆發的最無視軍政府的示威活動之一。

目擊者說，僧侶星期四進入神聖的大金塔時大聲誦經。這個星期早些時候，有關當局關閉了大金塔。隨後，僧侶冒雨向另一個寺塔進發。星期四是僧侶連續在仰光街頭進行和平遊行的第三天。

上個月，政府將燃油價格提升一倍，造成許多貧困的緬甸人交通困難之後，僧侶率先舉行抗議示威。在示威活動中，有關當局逮捕了至少50名活動分子，但一直避免對僧侶採取強硬措施。

Hundreds of Buddhist monks have marched through Rangoon in one of the most defiant protests against Burma's military government in at least a decade.

Witnesses say the monks chanted prayers Thursday) as they entered the revered Shwedagon pagoda, which authorities had locked earlier this week. The monks then marched through the rain to another pagoda. Today is the third straight day the monks have marched peacefully through Rangoon.

They have taken the lead in demonstrations that began last month after the government doubled the price of fuel, making transportation difficult for many of Burma's impoverished citizens. Authorities arrested at least 50 activists in those demonstrations, but have refrained from taking strong action against the monks.