VOA常速英语2007-Bhutto Supporters Allege Insufficient Security i

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
19 October 2007

Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto are expressing outrage¹ over the twin explosions that killed at least 125 people and wounded scores of others during her homecoming parade in Karachi Thursday. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that supporters are saying government officials might have been involved.

The Pakistan government had promised "foolproof" security for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming.

But Senator Latif Khosa of Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party says electronic bomb jammers operated by the police near her motorcade did not appear to be working.

Security officials say they suspect a suicide bomber² was responsible for the main blast, and it is difficult guard against such an attack.

Khosa, however, says even before Ms. Bhutto's arrival, she suspected at least two people in the government were plotting an attack against her.

"The former prime minister had already written a letter to the president of Pakistan nominating certain people who in her estimation would be responsible for the attack in case it so happened - and it has ultimately happened," said Khosa.

No officials were immediately available to comment on this claim.

Witnesses say security was tight at the start of Ms. Bhutto's procession near the airport in Karachi. But they say the security cordon³ around her vehicle grew lax after making its way for several hours through crowds of her supporters, estimated at 150,000 or more.

Senator Khosa says he was riding behind Ms. Bhutto's armored vehicle when gunfire rang out, and then two explosions thundered in quick succession.

The Karachi police say the first explosion was from a grenade, and the second was a suicide bomb.

Khosa said Ms. Bhutto had left the unprotected roof of her armored truck just minutes before the blasts tore through a crowd of people near the vehicle.

"It was the human shield surrounding her that unfortunately lost their lives," he said.

Ms. Bhutto appeared shaken, but party officials say she was unhurt in the attack. The party vowed⁴ that her planned homecoming journey across Pakistan will continue.

1 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

2 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。

3 cordon   

n.警戒线，哨兵线

参考例句：

• Police officers threw a cordon around his car to protect him.警察在他汽车周围设置了防卫圈以保护他。
• There is a tight security cordon around the area.这一地区周围设有严密的安全警戒圈。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。