2007年VOA标准英语-Tight Security Marks Holy Shi'ite Commemoration

By Sean Maroney
Washington, DC
30 January 2007
 
watch Iraq Security report

Tight security was in effect in Iraq for Shi'ite Muslims' observance of Ashura, their holiest day.  South of Baghdad, Iraqi forces say they broke up a plot to kill Shi'ite clerics during a major battle in Najaf province.  VOA's Sean Maroney reports.

Ashura procession

Sounds of mourning echo throughout the holy city of Karbala as Shi'ites commemorate¹ Ashura.

Iraqi police took no chances as they stepped up patrols in the city, 80 kilometers south of Baghdad.

Ashura marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammed.  It is the holiest day in the calendar for Shi'ites, who make up 60 percent of Iraq's population.

In nearby Najaf province, Iraqi forces battled with members of a religious cult² called "Soldiers of Heaven."  Iraqi officials say the Muslim fringe group planned to kill Shi'ite clerics during Ashura.  They say their troops killed at least 200 militants³, including the cult's leader, and detained more than 100 others.

The cultists' plot was aimed at Shi'ites, but a senior official in Najaf says those involved in the lengthy⁴ battle included both Sunni and Shi'ite insurgents⁵, as well as fighters from Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan.

U.S. air strikes supported Iraqi troops during Sunday's battle.  Two American soldiers died when their attack helicopter crashed during the fight.  There is no word on why the aircraft went down.

President Bush welcomed the Iraqis' battlefield success.  He also repeated previous warnings that the United States will respond firmly to any sign of increased Iranian military activity in Iraq.

In Washington, the U.S. Senate is preparing to vote this week on a resolution voicing disapproval⁶ of Mr. Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq.

Democratic Senator Joseph Biden is among the sponsors of the nonbonding resolution. "I will make you a bet [that] you will not find 20 percent of the Senate standing⁷ up and saying that the president is headed in the right direction."

Some Republicans are voicing their support for the president's "troop surge" plan, which would send an additional 21,500 soldiers to Iraq. For instance, Duncan Hunter, a Republican representative from California, said, "The idea that Congress is going to sit back and talk about cutting off reinforcement, that dis-serves the mission, and I think it dis-serves the soldiers that are over there."

President Bush says additional troops will go to Iraq now matter how the Senate votes on the resolution.

1 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

2 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

5 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

6 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。