Tug-Of-War:拔河,激烈竞争
外电报道如下:
The crisis over Ukraine's disputed presidential election intensified Sunday, as a key eastern province called a referendum on autonomy and the opposition demanded the current president fire his prime minister, the official winner of last week's vote that has bitterly divided this former Soviet republic.
The opposition warned President Leonid Kuchma it would block his movements unless he fired Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and fulfilled other demands within 24 hours.
Earlier, Kuchma called on the opposition to end its four-day blockade of government buildings, saying compromise was the only solution to the crisis that has developed into a tense political tug-of-war between the West and Moscow over Ukraine's future.
On Saturday, Ukraine's parliament declared the election invalid amid international calls for a new vote, and lawmakers also passed a vote of no confidence in the Central Elections Commission, which declared Moscow-backed Yanukovych the winner.
Tug-of-war表示“拔河,两派间激烈的竞争”,例如:a political tug-of-war between those in favor of the new legislation and those against it(新立法拥护者和反对者之间的政治优势竞争)
据悉,乌克兰因为这场选举风波已经分成对立的两派:主要讲乌克兰语的西部地区倾向于支持亲西方的尤先科,而以俄语为主的东部地区则倾向于拥护现任总理亚努科维奇