VOA常速英语2008年-Ecuador, Venezuela Send Troops to Colombia's Bo

By Brian Wagner
Miami
03 March 2008

Ecuador and Venezuela have ordered troops to their borders with Colombia, after a Colombian attack on rebels inside Ecuador. VOA's Brian Wagner reports from Miami.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said he had recalled his country's top diplomat¹ in Colombia and expelled Colombia's ambassador from Quito. He also called for immediate² meetings of the Organization of American States and the Andean Community of Nations to discuss Saturday's attack by Colombian troops.

Colombian officials apologized for the incident, saying they sent helicopters and troops across the border to find the source of shots fired against them. They said the attack killed 17 rebels, including a top commander, Raul Reyes, of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC.

Mr. Correa rejected the claims and accused Colombia of lying about the incident. He said the operation was a deliberate attack inside Ecuadorian territory, which violates the nation's sovereignty, bilateral³ accords, and international law.

In Caracas, President Hugo Chavez said he was sending tank battalions⁴ to his nation's border with Colombia and said he would respond if Colombian troops crossed into Venezuela.

Colombia says FARC rebels often cross remote jungle borders into Ecuador and Venezuela to seek refuge from Colombian military attacks.

In Bogota, police officials said troops had recovered the body of Reyes as well as rebel computers containing documents that suggested growing ties between the FARC and Ecuador's government.

National police director Oscar Naranjo reported one letter from Reyes said an emissary from President Correa had offered establishing formal ties with the FARC. He said the documents merit a response from Ecuador about the state of its relationship with a terrorist organization.

Ecuador's government said the claims were false.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

4 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》