VOA常速英语2007年-Separate Bomb Attacks Kill 26 in Iraq

By Deborah Block
Baghdad
07 December 2007

Iraqi police say separate bomb attacks have killed at least 26 people and wounded about 30 others in the volatile¹ Diyala province north of Baghdad. Authorities say at least 16 people were killed in one attack and 10 in another, with 27 wounded. As VOA's Deborah Block reports from Baghdad, some of the latest attacks have been directed against Iraqi groups that have turned against the insurgents².

Police say a female suicide bomber³ targeted a Sunni Islamist group Friday that recently began cooperating with U.S. and Iraqi forces in the fight against al-Qaida militants⁴ in Iraq.

A Diyala official says the bomber's two sons had joined al-Qaida and had been killed by Iraqi security forces.

Another suicide bombing took place at a nearby village 30 kilometers east of Baqouba. A driver in a car detonated explosives at a checkpoint.

The attacks highlight the danger for the U.S.-backed groups, which often include former insurgents who have turned against al-Qaida. The groups are credited with helping⁵ stem Iraq's violence along with American troops.

Also helping are volunteer Iraqi citizens, who the U.S. military pays about $300 each month, to provide security in their local communities. Ahmed Jamil Hussein is in charge of 180 volunteers in Abu Ghraib, a Sunni area 30 kilometers west of Baghdad.

He says no one believes in al-Qaida because they are liars⁶ and kill innocent people. He says al-Qaida has destroyed homes and forced people to leave.

Hussein says the volunteers are helping to drive out al-Qaida militants.

He says there has been a reaction against the militants who have killed peoples' sons. He says there is good cooperation between the volunteers the coalition⁷ forces and the Iraqi government.

American officials have also been working with Sunni and Shiite tribal⁸ leaders around the country, encouraging them to help stamp out al-Qaida and other militants. The groups include some 60,000 Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs.

1 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。

2 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

3 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。

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 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 liars   

说谎者( liar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The greatest liars talk most of themselves. 最爱自吹自擂的人是最大的说谎者。
• Honest boys despise lies and liars. 诚实的孩子鄙视谎言和说谎者。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。