VOA标准英语2010年-Death Toll Higher in Baghdad Church At

Iraqi authorities are defending their handling of a hostage-taking attack Sunday at a Baghdad church. At least 57 people died during the incident, while dozens more were wounded.
Iraqi officials surveyed the aftermath of the siege at the Our Lady of Deliverance church, expressing shock at the extent of the carnage. Police said militants¹ set off suicide vests loaded with ball bearings inside the crowded church, where worshippers had gathered for prayer. It was not immediately clear how many hostages were killed by militants or died at the hands of Iraqi forces during the rescue attempt.
Lawmaker Unadem Kana, a Christian², said he appreciated the sacrifice of the troops, both those wounded and killed, but expressed reservations.
Kana said the mission was not professional. Video of the incident released by the U.S. military showed several blasts as forces moved in. Iraqi Defense³ Minister Abdul-Qadr al-Obeidi has defended the move, saying it was impossible to wait because the hostage takers had threatened to kill the captives. Al-Obeidi called the operation a success, with all the terrorists killed and several suspects detained. Those arrested are believed to be connected to the al-Qaida-linked group Islamic State of Iraq. A statement attributed to the group late Sunday claimed responsibility for the attack. It tied the assault on Iraqi Christians⁴ to the case of two Egyptian women who disappeared after allegedly converting from Christianity to Islam.
Although the violence came to a climax⁵ at the church, it began earlier in the day at a nearby stock exchange, in Baghdad's Karada neighborhood. There was also some confusion about the role of the U.S. military in the operation. Iraqi and U.S. officials say Iraqi forces took the lead. But one hostage who survived the ordeal⁶ said he was freed by a group with men who looked like Americans.
The United States says its troops are no longer engaged in any combat missions in Iraq.
Washington is eager to see greater stability in Iraq as it fulfills⁷ an agreement to withdraw all U.S. troops from the country by the end of next year.

1 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。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

5 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

6 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

7 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句