Gaddafi seen meeting bomber on TV

　　Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has defied strong criticism from the UK and the US by meeting Lockerbie bomber¹ Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on Libyan TV.
　　The pair were shown embracing and talking, while Col Gaddafi also spoke² to Megrahi's family.
　　The Scottish Government freed the terminally-ill 57-year-old on compassionate（同情心） grounds on Thursday.
　　Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office has denied claims Megrahi was released to ensure trade deals with Libya.
　　Col Gaddafi's son, Seif al-Islam, told Libyan TV Megrahi's case was raised during talks over oil and gas.
　　But the Foreign Office said no deal had been made.
　　Meanwhile, Megrahi told the Times newspaper he intended to present new evidence proving his innocence³.
　　The man convicted of killing⁴ 270 people aboard a transatlantic airliner⁵ in 1988 said he would present the evidence through lawyers in Scotland and ask the British and Scottish communities to "be the jury".
　　No deal has been made between the UK government and the Libyan government in relation to Megrahi and any commercial interestsUK Foreign OfficeBomber release: What now?
　　He said he was "very, very happy" to be free.
　　"This was my hope and wish - to be back with my family before I pass away. I always believed I would come back if justice prevailed."Colonel Gaddafi's son had labelled Megrahi's release a "victory".
　　In an interview with a Libyan station, Mr Islam reportedly claimed that the Megrahi issue had been raised repeatedly by Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair.
　　"In all commercial contracts, for oil and gas with Britain, (Megrahi) was always on the negotiating table," Mr Islam said told Libya's Al Mutawassit channel.
　　Mr Blair visited Libya in May 2007, during which UK energy giant BP signed a $900m (?540m) exploration deal.
　　However, the Foreign Office insisted Megrahi's release had been a matter solely⁶ for the Scottish authorities.
　　A spokesman said: "No deal has been made between the UK government and the Libyan government in relation to Megrahi and any commercial （商业）interests in the country."UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband earlier rejected suggestions the UK pushed for Megrahi's release to improve relations as "a slur⁷ on both myself and the government".
　　Prince AndrewSeparately, the Foreign Office was unable to confirm whether a planned trip to Libya by the Duke of York in September would be cancelled.
　　A spokeswoman said an official invitation to the British government from Libya had not yet been received.
　　However, it is believed any visit by a member of the Royal Family is unlikely to go ahead in light of the furore surrounding Megrahi's return.
　　HAVE YOUR SAY This won't have any long term affect on relations with the US, but the decision shows a lack of empathy for the families of the murdered, and it will affect themGerry Giambattista, PennsylvaniaSend us your comments The bomber's release - and the hero's welcome he was given on return to Libya - provoked anger from many relatives of those who died aboard Pan-Am flight 103, particularly in the US.
　　President Barack Obama condemned⁸ the jubilant scenes at Tripoli airport as "highly objectionable".
　　The UK foreign secretary described TV footage of people greeting Megrahi by cheering and waving flags as "deeply distressing⁹".
　　Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond also said the reception was "inappropriate".
　　UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has so far made no comment, although it has emerged he wrote to Col Gaddafi to ask that Libya "act with sensitivity" in its welcome.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

6 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

7 slur   

v.含糊地说；诋毁；连唱；n.诋毁；含糊的发音

参考例句：

• He took the remarks as a slur on his reputation.他把这些话当作是对他的名誉的中伤。
• The drug made her speak with a slur.药物使她口齿不清。

8 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

9 distressing   

a.使人痛苦的

参考例句：

• All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
• It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。