VOA常速英语2007年-Sunni Lawmakers Walk Out of Iraqi Parliament

By Deborah Block
Irbil, Iraq
01 December 2007

Iraq's political process was thrown into new turmoil² on Saturday when the main Sunni bloc¹ walked out of parliament to protest a crackdown on its leader. The latest political upheaval³ came as suspected Al-Qaida militants⁴ killed at least 12 people in a raid on a Shi'ite village.  VOA's Deborah Block has more from the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

Iraq's main Sunni bloc walked out of a parliamentary session Saturday to protest what it calls the house arrest of its leader, Adnan al-Dulaimi.  Supporters say Dulaimi told them he is confined to his home.

On Friday, Iraqi security forces arrested Dulaimi's bodyguards⁵, as well as his son, after two cars filled with explosives were found near the politician's office in Baghdad. 

Kassam Atta, a spokesman for the Iraqi government's Baghdad security plan, says security forces captured 36 bodyguards and Dulaimi's son, and an investigation⁶ is underway.

Lawmakers from the bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, say they will return to parliament when Dulaimi is allowed to come back.  They say security forces are preventing Dulaimi from leaving home.  But Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denies the accusation⁷.

He says Dulaimi is not under house arrest, and security forces have been sent to protect him.  He says Dulaimi is a good parliament member, but he also said any proceedings⁸ against him would be carried out under provisions of the constitution.

Dulaimi is a strong critic of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite.  His Iraqi Accordance Front has 44 lawmakers in the 275-member parliament. 

The U.S. has been urging the Shi'ite-led government to make progress toward political reconciliation⁹.  The Bush administration has expressed frustration¹⁰ at the lack of progress so far. 

Meanwhile, Iraqi police say at least 12 people were killed when suspected al-Qaida militants raided a Shi'ite village north of Baghdad.

Authorities say women and children were among those killed in the attack on Dwelah, in volatile¹¹ Diyala province.  The militants burned down several homes and wounded at least 10 other villagers.

The attack coincided with the release of a new Iraqi government report showing the number of civilians¹² killed in November fell to its lowest level since early 2006.

1 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。

2 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

3 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

4 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。

5 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

6 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。

7 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

9 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

10 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

11 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

12 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。