Words in International affairs

　　Editor's note: The US's declaration of war on terrorism brought us many new words. Knowing them may facilitate your understanding of the news.

　　International coalition 国际联盟Washington is assembling a broad international coalition to support its war on terrorism.——Reuters

　　Humanitarian crisis 人道主义危机The United Nations and other aid organizations made a plea for more aid for Afghanistan at an emergency meeting called to deal with the region's mounting humanitarian crisis.——AP

　　Military might 军事力量Sensing it is only a matter of time before the US uses its military might to strike at Afghanistan, foreign relief organizations in neighbouring Pakistan began to cope with an influx of up to one million refugees from the war-torn country.——Reuters

　　Military strike 军事打击Chanting "war is not the answer," the protesters flooded the streets of the US capital to call for peace as President Bush moved forward with plans for military strikes against those he blames for the September 11 hijacker attacks that left 6,500 feared dead in New York and Washington.——AP

　　Neutral figure 保持中立的人Momentum appeared to be building for the 86-year-old former king of Afghanistan, Mohammad Zahir Shah, to play a role as a neutral figure overseeing a transition of power should the Taliban fall as a result of threatened US attacks.——AP

　　Anti-war protesters 反战示威者Opposition of a different sort was heard as anti-war protesters in Washington and several other cities around the world demonstrated against possible military action.——Reuters

　　Jihad 圣战 （伊斯兰教教徒反对异教徒的战争）Afghanistan's ruling Taliban has mobilized 300,000 Afghans for jihad, or holy war, the Islamic militia's defence minister said on Monday.——Reuters

　　Kamikaze attack/suicide attack 神风式飞机的攻击，二战时期日本与对手同归于尽的自杀性飞行攻击/自杀性攻击Washington has said that this week's kamikaze attack on its landmarks was a declaration of war and Congress authorized President Bush on Friday to use "all necessary and appropriate force" in response.——Reuters

　　British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned the country on Monday to brace for casualties when a US-led coalition retaliates for the suicide attacks on Washington and New York.——Reuters

　　Highest alert 一级戒备The US military went on highest alert today after the worst terrorist attacks in the nation's history crippled New York's financial centre and struck at the heart of the federal government in Washington.——AP

　　Airstrike 空袭An Iraqi military spokesman told the Official Iraqi News Agency that one civilian had been injured in the airstrikes on Thursday.——Reuters

　　Commandos 突击队A small number of US Army commandos have slipped into northern Afghanistan to seek information on the whereabouts of suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, senior administration officials said yesterday.——AP