VOA标准英语2009年-UN to Investigate Assassination of Former Pakis

The United Nations has announced the establishment of a commission to investigate the 2007 assassination¹ of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
　
Benazir Bhutto addresses media representatives at a press conference in Karachi, 19 Oct 2007

Supporters of Benazir Bhutto have remained skeptical² of the country's initial investigation³ that concluded al-Qaida or Taliban assassins most likely killed her in December 2007.

In July, officials of Ms. Bhutto's party appealed to the United Nations to form an independent commission to investigate.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Islamabad that after extensive consultation⁴, a three-member commission will be created, "very soon." He spoke⁵ after meeting with Pakistani President Asif Zardari, the widower⁶ of Benazir Bhutto.

"This is a crime that shocked and offended the world," said Ban Ki-moon. "And I know this is a matter of great importance to the government and people of Pakistan."

When the former prime minister returned from exile in October 2007, she said she had received warnings from friendly intelligence agencies about several groups plotting to assassinate⁷ her.

The initial investigation by Pakistani authorities into the gun and suicide bomb attack that killed her after a political rally in Rawalpindi blamed Baitullah Mehsud, a Pakistani Taliban commander. U.S. intelligence officials also named him as the most likely suspect.

Her supporters have rejected those findings, suggesting that Ms. Bhutto's political opponents may have been involved and tampered⁸ with the investigation. British investigators⁹ later largely confirmed the initial findings, although admitted their access to evidence was limited.

Ms. Bhutto's widower Asif Zardari, now Pakistan's president, has resisted calls to conduct another Pakistani investigation. He said he hoped the independent, three-member U.N. commission will finally establish the facts and circumstances of her death.

"We believe that the commission's findings will lead to eventually exposing the financiers, the organizers, the sponsors and the conspirators¹⁰ of this terrorist act and bring them to justice," he said.

Mr. Zardari said he hopes the commission will soon begin its work.

1 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。

2 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 widower   

n.鳏夫

参考例句：

• George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
• Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

7 assassinate   

vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤

参考例句：

• The police exposed a criminal plot to assassinate the president.警方侦破了一个行刺总统的阴谋。
• A plot to assassinate the banker has been uncovered by the police.暗杀银行家的密谋被警方侦破了。

8 tampered   

v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄

参考例句：

• The records of the meeting had been tampered with. 会议记录已被人擅自改动。 来自辞典例句
• The old man's will has been tampered with. 老人的遗嘱已被窜改。 来自辞典例句

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 conspirators   

n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句