2006年VOA标准英语-Murdered Former Russian Spy Buried in London

By Tom Rivers
London
07 December 2006

Ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died last month after being poisoned, has been buried in London. Around 50 family members and friends attended, some traveling from Russia and Italy. For VOA News, Tom Rivers reports from London.

 
Coffin¹ of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is carried during his funeral at Highgate Cemetery² in north London
In a private ceremony at Highgate cemetery in north London, Alexander Litvinenko was laid to rest in an air-tight, sealed coffin.

The former Russian spy died last month from a lethal³ dose of the radioactive substance polonium-210. Scotland Yard now formally regards its investigation⁴ as a murder probe.

Prior to the funeral, family and friends held a memorial service at Regent's Park Mosque⁵. The 43-year-old reportedly converted to the Islamic faith in his final days.

Among those in attendance were Litvinenko's father, his wife, who has also tested positive for traces of polonium, and the couple's son.

Meanwhile, Britain's Health Protection Agency has disclosed that at least seven staff members at London's Millennium⁶ Hotel, a location Litvinenko visited on November 1, the day he became ill, have also shown low levels of the radioactive isotope⁷.

The chief of that body, Pat Troop, outlined that part of the wide-ranging health investigation.

"First of all, none of them are ill," she said. "None of them have any illness in the short term. But, in the longer term, they may have a slight increase, a very low increase in their long-term risk to health."

The agency is asking the hundreds of people who visited the hotel bar between October 31 and November 2 to come forward for screenings.

 
A flag over the British embassy in Moscow
In Moscow, nine British detectives continue to work through their interview list.

A key person they want to talk to is former Russian intelligence bodyguard⁸ Andrei Lugovoi. He and a fellow Russian associate stayed at the Millennium Hotel during the dates in question.

Earlier, Russian authorities stated that, whatever the outcome of the Scotland Yard investigation, no Russian citizens would be extradited to Britain, as that would be in breach⁹ of the country's constitution.

But Russian prosecutors¹⁰ have now launched their own murder investigation in parallel to the British operation.

1 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

3 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

6 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

7 isotope   

n.同位素

参考例句：

• The isotope ratio is directly used for comparing oils or gases.同位素比率直接用于比较各种石油或天然气。
• How to apply a radio isotope?如何运用放射性同位素？

8 bodyguard   

n.护卫，保镖

参考例句：

• She has to have an armed bodyguard wherever she goes.她不管到哪儿都得有带武器的保镖跟从。
• The big guy standing at his side may be his bodyguard.站在他身旁的那个大个子可能是他的保镖。

9 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

10 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。