voa标准英语2008年-Commandos Launch Operations to Clear Luxury Hot

In India's financial hub of Mumbai, commandos and troops have mounted an operation to clear two luxury hotels seized by gunmen. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, at least 101 people have been killed and as many as 287 wounded in coordinated¹ attacks mounted by terrorists at night.

A crack team of 200 commandos flew in to Mumbai from New Delhi early Thursday to take charge of rescue operations in two of the city's most posh hotels - the Taj Mahal hotel and Oberoi Hotel. Soldiers have ringed the hotels.

Sporadic² gunshots could be heard outside as commandos entered the hotels.
　

Foreign tourist breaks down after being rescued safely from hotel following attack in Mumbai, India, 27 Nov 2008

The two hotels were among several high profile targets attacked by gunmen who fired indiscriminately and tossed grenades late Wednesday. Since then, an unknown number of people - both foreigners and Indians - are trapped inside parts of the hotels, popular with both business travelers and tourists.

Some foreigners are believed to be held hostage by the gunmen.

Some people evacuated³ overnight

Through the night, fire crews evacuated a number of people from the Taj Mahal hotel where a grenade apparently⁴ caused a huge blaze in a part of the building.

Some of the people trapped inside, like this guest at Taj Hotel, managed to communicate what was happening to reporters via their phones.

"Till about 15 minutes ago, near my room, in the stairwell, there was lot of firing going on, automatic weapons," says a guest. "The hotel management has done a very good job… They told us to turn the lights off, shut the curtains and stay inside and do not answer the door."

Home minister says attacks highly planned

Junior federal Home Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal says the terror attacks were highly planned and some of the worst ever in the country.

Jaiswal says the government looks upon the terror attacks as a war and will fight it in the same way as a war is fought.
　

The Taj Hotel, Mumbai's landmark5 hotel, catches fire after an attack in Mumbai, early Thursday morning, 27 Nov 2008

Mumbai has virtually come to a standstill as police have advised people to stay indoors. The stock markets have been shut as authorities cope with one of the worst terror attacks ever in the country. Among those killed were Mumbai's anti-terror chief and at least 11 policemen.

Hospitals are filled with casualties as hundreds have been wounded in the attacks. There are several foreigners among those hospitalized.

A little known group called the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

　

1 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

3 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。