VOA常速英语2008年-Twin Blasts Rock Ethiopian Capital, Killing Thr

By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
15 April 2008

Two bomb blasts in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have killed three people and injured 18 others. VOA's Peter Heinlein in Addis Ababa reports the attacks targeted Ethiopia's national oil company.

The blasts occurred within an hour of each other late Monday at two gas stations operated by the privately-owned National Oil Company in different parts of the Ethiopian capital. In each case, police say an explosive device was planted near a kerosene¹ dispenser.

Among the dead was a 10-year-old girl.

Police immediately sealed off the areas around the blast sites, but witnesses say both explosions caused considerable damage.

An Information Ministry² spokesman would not rule out terrorism, but said no one claimed responsibility and no suspects were identified.

Addis Ababa has been the scene of two other bomb blasts in recent weeks, one outside Ethiopia's Commercial Bank and the other near the entrance to the high court

National Oil Company Chief Executive Officer Tadesse Tilahun says the two stations were back in operation Tuesday. He told VOA he is puzzled that oil installations were targeted.

"It has never happened like that in our stations," Tilahun said. "This is the first time, and I cannot tell because we here as a company are doing what is really good for the society at large, and that is our job, and I do not know anything negative from what we are doing to the public."

The semi-private National Oil Company operates 20 gasoline stations in Addis Ababa and about 80 throughout Ethiopia.

State-run Ethiopian television, in its report on the blasts, noted³ they came a day after the first phase of nationwide local and parliamentary elections. The reports speculated that the explosions could be the work of disgruntled opposition⁴ political factions⁵.

 

A second phase of the elections will be held next Sunday, with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front expected to win by a landslide⁶. Opposition parties have alleged⁷ massive fraud, and say a ruling party sweep would clear the way for one-party rule in Ethiopia.

Officials of the prime minister's party have rejected the charges, arguing that opposition parties, many of them small regional groups, were ill-equipped and poorly prepared for the nationwide municipal council elections.

1 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

2 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 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。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

6 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为