2007年VOA标准英语-Suicide Bomber Kills Iraqi Police Recruits

By Margaret Besheer
Baghdad
10 April 2007

Iraqi police say a female suicide bomber¹ attacked a police recruitment center north of Baghdad, killing² at least 16 recruits and injuring more than 33 others.  Meanwhile, on a visit to Japan, Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, said there is no need to set a timetable for the withdrawal³ of coalition⁴ forces.  From Baghdad, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more on the day's developments.

Police say the suicide bomber was a woman, who approached the police recruiting center and then detonated her explosives.  The attack took place in Muqdadiya, a mainly Sunni Arab town about 90 kilometers northeast of Baghdad.

There was also violence inside the capital, where security operations are in their eighth week.  A bomb exploded near Baghdad University, killing and injuring several people.

Fierce fighting was also reported between U.S. and Iraqi forces and gunmen in the Sunni neighborhood of Fadhil.  The U.S. military said two of its helicopters in Baghdad came under small arms fire, but returned safely to base.

The U.S. military also announced the deaths of four more American soldiers killed on Monday.  Three died in a roadside bomb blast in Baghdad and the other in the volatile⁵ western al-Anbar province.  April has been a deadly month for U.S. troops, with nearly 45 killed in the first nine days.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki holds a press conference in Tokyo Tuesday, 10 April 2007

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, says there is no need to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

He told reporters progress on the security situation is being made daily and the Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for it.  He said he sees no need for a withdrawal timetable, because the Iraqis are working as fast as they can.  He added that what will govern the departure of international forces will be how confident the Iraqis are in the handover process and what accomplishments⁶ they make, not a timetable.

Monday, thousands of Iraqis protested the continued presence of U.S. and foreign forces on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad.  The peaceful demonstration⁷, held in the southern Shi'ite holy city of Najaf, was called by anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.  The cleric is believed to be in hiding in neighboring Iran and did not attend the protest. 

While in Tokyo, Mr. Maliki also secured more than $100 billion in loans for reconstruction⁸ projects focusing on the oil, agriculture, water and power sectors⁹.

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 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。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 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。

5 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。

6 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

8 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

9 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》