VOA常速英语2007年-Suspected Terrorists Flee Mauritania After Alle

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
26 December 2007

Three Mauritanians said to have links to an Algerian terrorist organization called al-Qaida of the Magreb are believed to have fled from Mauritania to neighboring Senegal. They are alleged¹ to have killed four French tourists and severely² wounded a fifth in eastern Mauritania. Police say the investigation³ is ongoing⁴ and they have already arrested several people they suspect of helping⁵ the suspects. Naomi Schwarz has more from VOA's West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.

Senegalese authorities say they are on alert and looking for three men suspected to have fled there from Mauritania.

Senegalese National Police spokesman Daouda Diop says police have deployed⁶ all the necessary men and materials to conduct a thorough search.

Diop says if they are in Senegal, they will do everything to find them and send them back to the Mauritanian authorities.

The three men are suspected of killing⁷ four French tourists and wounding a fifth on Monday afternoon. The tourists, a father, his two adult sons, his brother, and his friend, were traveling in sports utility vehicles across southeastern Mauritania en route to Mali and Burkina Faso.

Authorities say the men stopped along the road near a town called Aleg for a picnic. Three men with guns pulled up in a black Mercedes, demanded money, and then shot all five. Only the father, a man in his seventies, survived, with severe bullet wounds to his legs.

Mauritanian journalist Salem Bokari says the police soon arrested two men and a woman, with criminal records for banditry. But he says they were later released, when the police turned their attention to a different set of suspects, with ties to an Algerian terrorist organization.

"A Mauritanian investigation, they are convinced that the attack is terrorist, made by very dangerous elements belonging to the terrorist al-Qaida in the North of Africa," said Bokari.

Bokari says the terrorist group, which used to be called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, has not claimed responsibility for the act.

The Algerian Islamic extremist group has fought against the Algerian government and western interests in the region for more than a decade. They say they want an Islamist government in Algeria.

Bokari says the group does not have a large presence in Mauritania.

"It is not a popular group in Mauritania," he said. "Mauritanian Intelligence service thinks that there are about 20 persons who were there with the Algerian terrorist group linked to al-Qaida."

Bokari says the 20 Mauritanians are suspected to have received military training from the Algerian group before returning to Mauritania two years ago.

Islamic extremism has been on the rise throughout northern Africa from its base in Algeria. In September, al-Qaida's second in command called on northern Africans to "cleanse⁸" their region of westerners. But Mauritania, a relatively⁹ stable and peaceful country, has not previously¹⁰ seen attacks against foreigners.

In just two weeks, mainly European racers in the annual Paris-Dakar rally will drive through Mauritania on their way to Senegal.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

3 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。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

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 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

9 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。