2007年VOA标准英语-Truck Bomber Releases Chlorine Gas in Western I

By Margaret Besheer
Baghdad
06 April 2007

Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber¹ has detonated a truck filled with explosives and chlorine gas near the western Iraqi city of Ramadi.  At least 27 people were killed and dozens more injured and sickened.  From Baghdad, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

Iraqi police say the truck bomber targeted a police checkpoint a few kilometers from the Sunni city of Ramadi, in the volatile² western province of al-Anbar.

Local council member Muhammad Nattah told Iraqi television that the bomber struck at around 11 in the morning in a densely³ populated neighborhood. He said the truck was loaded with explosives and chlorine, and many casualties were taken to a hospital in Ramadi.

Recently, insurgents⁴ have been using chlorine in their attacks, which when released into the atmosphere sickens those who come in contact with the toxic⁵ gas.

Officials accuse al-Qaida in Iraq of perpetrating the attacks, which have occurred in mostly Sunni western Iraq, where many tribal⁶ leaders have withdrawn⁷ their support for the terrorist group.

Meanwhile, in the southern city of Diwaniyah, a stronghold of the Shiite Mahdi Army, Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted security sweeps of the city.

"This morning, Iraqi and coalition⁸ troops launched Operation Black Eagle down in the town of Diwaniyah in order stem rising militia⁹ violence," explains U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant¹⁰ Colonel Christopher Garver.

Residents said a curfew had been imposed and that troops were blocking streets and conducting house-to-house searches.

Khaleel Jaleel Hamza, the governor of Diwaniyah, said Iraqi and U.S. forces clashed with armed groups from the area, but he did not have any information on casualties.

Lieutenant Colonel Garver said the operation would continue.

"The operation will continue until that part of Diwaniyah has been cleared and the militia influence has been either driven out or the militia members acting¹¹ against the will of the Iraqi people are either captured or killed," he added.

Meanwhile, another journalist has been killed.  Radio Free Iraq reports its correspondent, Khamail Khalaf, was found dead in Baghdad Thursday. She had been missing for two days amid fears she had been kidnapped.  More than 150 members of the news media have been killed in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

1 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。

2 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。

3 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

4 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

5 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

6 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。

7 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

8 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。

9 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

10 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。