VOA标准英语2008年-Militants Kill Eight Tribal Leaders in Pakistan

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Islamabad
07 January 2008

Suspected Islamic militants² have killed eight tribal³ leaders involved in brokering⁵ a peace deal between the army and Islamic insurgents⁶ in Pakistan's volatile⁷ northwest region near the border with Afghanistan. The killings⁸ come as the Pakistan government repeats it position that no U.S. or other foreign troops will be allowed to operate in the country. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins has more from Islamabad.

Suspected Islamic militants linked to al Qaida shot and killed eight tribal leaders who were trying to broker⁴ a government-sponsored peace deal between the insurgents and the army, the military said on Monday.

The killings took place late Sunday in the country's volatile mountainous tribal region of South Waziristan in the North West Frontier Province near the Afghan border region where al-Qaida and Taliban militants are believed to operate.

South Waziristan is also home to the al-Qaida linked Islamic militant¹ leader Baitullah Mehsud, who the government blames for the December 27 assassination⁹ of opposition¹⁰ leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Mehsud denies responsibility for Ms. Bhutto's assassination and her supporters blame the government.

The government has been fighting Islamic militants in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, trying to rid the region of Islamic militants and foreign fighters, and impose the rule of law.

Pakistan's military launched a major offensive last November against Islamic insurgents in the northwestern Swat Valley, a former tourist destination. The military said it killed over 300 militants during the offensive.

Terrorism expert and author Ahmed Rashid says many people in the region are afraid of the Taliban but distrustful of the government.

"They don't trust the government, they don't want to join the government against the militants because they feel the government will not be able to protect them or even to fulfill¹¹ whatever promises are made, said Rashid. "So that's why people are afraid of supporting the government and they tend to keep quiet or they support the militants."

Pakistan is a close U.S. ally in its war on terror and has received millions of dollars in aid to help fight Islamic militants in the country.

Reacting to a New York Times article that the Bush administration was considering expanding U.S. military and intelligence operations in the tribal regions, Pakistan's foreign ministry¹² spokesman, Mohammad Sidiq, said Monday only Pakistan forces would be allowed to operate in the region.

"I think the government of Pakistan has taken a very clear position from the very beginning," said Sidiq. "Any action on Pakistan's territory will be taken by Pakistan's armed forces and Pakistan's agencies. No foreign country will be allowed to take action on Pakistan territory."

The U.S. government has been pressuring the government of President Pervez Musharraf to crackdown on Islamic militants operating in the country.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

5 brokering   

v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的现在分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• Intertwined with these were rivalry, power brokering, and patronage. 然而也不乏有抗争、强权操纵与任命特权交织其中。 来自互联网
• Kingston Quest Can Assist Your Company In Negotiations, Brokering, Agency Services, Sourcing Factories Or Property. 金士顿追求，可帮助您的公司在谈判中，经纪，代理服务，货源工厂或财产。 来自互联网

6 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

7 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。

8 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

9 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。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

12 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。