VOA标准英语2009年-AU Mourns Peacekeeping Commander Killed in

By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
17 September 2009

 
Black smoke rises from inside the AMISOM base in Mogadishu after two powerful explosions ripped through the African Union peacekeepers force commander building in Somalia, 17 Sep 2009
The African Union has strongly condemned¹ a suicide bomb attack in Somalia that killed at least nine AU peacekeepers, including the mission's deputy commander. An Islamic extremist group said it carried out the attack at the Mogadishu airport to avenge² the death of one of its leaders.

African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping paid tribute to the fallen peacekeepers during a meeting with reporters. He described the attackers as criminal and terrorist elements determined³ to undermine the progress made in recent months in finding a lasting⁴ solution to nearly two decades of war in Somalia.

"We are condemning⁵ strongly this attack [perpetrated] against our elements bringing peace and security to Somalia," he said. "This attack will not affect the determination of the African Union to do all the necessary efforts to bring back peace in Somalia."

A further statement issued later called the attack testimony⁶ to the threat posed by criminal and terrorist elements and their backers, both within and outside Somalia.

 
Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza (file photo)
AU officials say the dead included Burundian Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza, deputy commander of the 5,000 strong peacekeeping force known as AMISOM. The top commander, Ugandan General Nathan Mugisha was among the injured.

Witnesses say the explosives were apparently⁷ concealed⁸ in two trucks bearing United Nations markings that were allowed into the peacekeepers' compound at the Mogadishu airport. 

The hardline Islamist al-Shabab rebel group claimed responsibility. A rebel spokesman said the attack was in retaliation⁹ for a U.S. military operation that killed an al-Qaida linked terror suspect Monday in southern Somalia.

U.S. officials say the suspect had been wanted by the FBI for the 2002 terrorist bombing of an Israeli-owned hotel in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.

1 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

2 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

7 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。

8 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

9 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》