VOA常速英语2008年-Suicide Bombing in Pakistan Leaves At Least 25

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
09 February 2008

Authorities in Pakistan say a suicide bomb attack at an election rally in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least 25 people. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

Witnesses say that activists² of a regional political group, the Awami National Party, were listening to speeches by their leaders in the town of Charsadda when the bomb went off. The explosion injured scores of people and doctors say the death toll³ could rise.

Afrasiab Khattak, provincial⁴ president of the secular⁵ political party and a prominent human rights activist¹, was at the rally, but told reporters he was not hurt.  

"There was an explosion in my meeting," he recalled.  "There was a big bang and then I saw some people getting hit. I am fine."

Saturday's bombing was one of several major attacks in Charsadda in recent months. Former federal Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpo survived two suicide attacks in the city last year that killed scores of people.

Pakistani authorities have blamed Islamic militants⁶ for the violence targeting security forces and politicians. The militants are also blamed for assassinating⁷ former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Extremist violence has undermined election-related activities in Pakistan and the latest attack is likely to increase security concerns ahead of February 18 parliamentary elections.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

5 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

6 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。

7 assassinating   

v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• They struck a blow for freedom by assassinating the colonial governor. 他们为了自由而奋力一博，暗杀了那位殖民地总督。 来自互联网