  Soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) are
generally accepted to be magnetars. Recently, Zhang, Xu & Qiao (2000, ApJ, 545,
L127) proposed an alternative viewpoint about the nature of the SGRs (and
AXPs). In this picture, SGR bursts are attributed to the impacts of some
comet-like objects with the central bare strange star. Here I briefly review
this model, and confront it with the detailed observations of SGRs/AXPs. A
comparison to the magnetar model is also presented. Some theoretical issues
concerning the nature of the SGRs (and AXPs) are discussed.
