2007年VOA标准英语-Italian Newspaper Confirms Reporter Missing in

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
06 March 2007

The Taleban say they have captured an Italian journalist who they claim was spying for British troops in southern Afghanistan. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica has confirmed Tuesday it has lost contact with its reporter in Afghanistan.

Undated picture of the Italian daily La Repubblica special reporter to Afghanistan, Daniele Mastrogiacomo

Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Franco Danieli told parliament Tuesday that La Repubblica newspaper has not been able to make contact since Sunday with its correspond ent in Afghanistan, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, 53.

Danieli added that the paper said journalist had traveled from Kabul to Kandahar for his job. Italian colleagues in Afghanistan confirmed that Mastrogiacomo was planning to make contact with the Taleban in the turbulent south of the country, where British and Canadian forces operate.

Danieli said the journalist's family members were informed and that all efforts were being made by the foreign ministry¹ and Italian embassy in Kabul to find the reporter.

The deputy foreign minister also said that a statement attributed to the Taleban was released in Kabul claiming that the group had captured a journalist from La Repubblica and accused him of being a spy.

Taleban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said the reporter had confessed to spying. He added that two Afghans were also captured. These are believed to be the interpreter and driver working with the Italian journalist. They were all reportedly traveling together by vehicle Monday in Nad Ali district of Helmand province.

NATO-led troops launched their largest ever offensive against Taleban militants³ on Tuesday in the volatile⁴ southern Afghan province of Helmand, where hundreds of militant² fighters have amassed⁵. The Afghan government has little control over many parts of northern Helmand, and foreign troops stationed there have been fighting almost-daily battles with militants.

U.S. intelligence officials say Taleban fighters have flooded into Helmand in recent months, and that there are now more fighters in that province than any other part of the country.

Meanwhile in Italy, some parliamentarians expressed concern over the coincidence of the abduction of the Italian journalist just as the parliament is examining and preparing to vote on the extension of Italian military mission in Afghanistan. Italy has 1,800 troops stationed in the country.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

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 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。

5 amassed   

v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He amassed a fortune from silver mining. 他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。
• They have amassed a fortune in just a few years. 他们在几年的时间里就聚集了一笔财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》