2007年VOA标准英语-Iraq's Deputy PM Stable Day After Bomb Attack

By Margaret Besheer
Irbil
24 March 2007

Iraq's deputy prime minister, injured in an assassination¹ attempt Friday, was in stable condition and moved out of a Baghdad intensive care unit Saturday.  Meanwhile, insurgents² killed and injured several people in two separate Baghdad attacks, despite the on-going security crackdown in the capital.  From northern Iraq, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

Salam al-Zobai speaks during a press conference in Baghdad in this May 2006 file photograph

Iraq's health minister, Doctor Ali al-Shummari, told Iraqi television Saturday that Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie's condition is improving.  The minister underwent surgery Friday at a U.S. military-run hospital to remove shrapnel from his lungs.

He said Zubaie's condition is stable and Saturday morning doctors removed his breathing tubes.  He said he hoped the minister would be well enough to be discharged in the next few days.

Zubaie was injured Friday at his Baghdad compound when one of his entourage detonated an explosives belt, killing³ nine people and injuring Zubaie and several others. A few minutes later, a car parked inside the compound also exploded.

One of the minister's brothers and one of his advisers⁴ were among the dead.

Speaking on state-run television Saturday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said an investigation⁵ is being conducted into how the bomber⁶ was able to get explosives inside the compound undetected.

Mr. Maliki said the attack against Zubaie, a Sunni Arab, proves that the enemies of democracy and change in Iraq are determined⁷ to target those who are working hard for the country.  He said Zubaie was very active against groups like al-Qaida.

In an Internet posting, the Islamic State of Iraq, a group linked to al-Qaida in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack against the deputy prime minister.  The group also claimed the mortar⁸ strike on Baghdad's Green Zone Thursday that landed directly outside the building where U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Maliki were holding a news conference.

The authenticity⁹ of the claims could not be verified.

Meanwhile, despite a security crackdown in the capital, terrorists carried out two deadly attacks in southern Baghdad.

A suicide truck bomber struck a police station in a mainly Sunni area, killing and injuring several officers and civilians¹⁰. Earlier, in a Shi'ite enclave, a mortar attack killed three people and wounded several others.

In neighboring Iran, a report from the country's semi-official Fars agency says 15 British sailors and marines seized Friday by the Iranian navy in disputed waters off Iraq have been transferred to Tehran.

Fars reports that the British detainees are being asked to explain what Iranian officials call their "blatant¹¹ aggression¹²."  The agency quotes Iranian officials as saying the British navy knowingly and illegally entered Iranian territorial¹³ waters, and readings from the computerized navigational equipment aboard the seized British boats proves it.

The Britons had just finished searching a merchant vessel¹⁴ when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian ships into Iranian territorial waters.  The British government has demanded their immediate¹⁵ and safe return.

1 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

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 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。

4 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

5 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。

6 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。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

9 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

10 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。

11 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

12 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

13 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

14 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

15 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。