Biden Urges Iraqi Leaders to Settle Differences

 　　U.S. Vice¹ President Joe Biden is urging Iraqi leaders to settle their political differences with the country's Sunni Muslim vice president facing charges that he plotted to kill other government officials.

　　The White House says Biden telephoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the speaker of the Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi. It says Biden stressed the urgent need for the prime minister the leaders of other political blocs³ to meet and work through their differences.

　　Biden again said the United States has a long-term commitment to a strategic partnership⁴ with Iraq.

　　Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, denies charges that he was behind an alleged⁵ plot to kill other government officials. He says charges by the Shi'ite-led government are politically motivated. Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged terrorism.

　　An Interior Ministry⁶ spokesman says three of Hashemi's bodyguards⁷ confessed they planted bombs targeting Iraqi government and security officials with Hashemi's backing.

　　Last week, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a no-confidence vote in parliament against another leading Sunni politician, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq. In an interview with VOA's Kurdish service, Mutlaq called Mr. Maliki a dictator and urged the United States to revisit its policy on Iraq.

　　Both Hashemi and Mutlaq are leaders of Iraq's mostly Sunni Iraqiya political bloc², part of the country's coalition⁸ government. Iraqiya's members walked out of parliament on Saturday, accusing Mr. Maliki of seizing power.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

3 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 bodyguards   

n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。