VOA标准英语2010-Suicide Attacks Kill 45 in Pakistan

The United States has condemned¹ the attack. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the White House is greatly concerned by the attack.

Ayaz Gul | Islamabad 05 April 2010

Pakistani volunteers push a stretcher carrying an injured paramilitary soldier at a hospital after a huge suicide bomb attack on the US consulate² in Peshawar on 5 Apr 2010

Authorities in northwestern Pakistan say a coordinated³ gun-and-bomb attack targeting a U.S. Consulate and a suicide-bomb explosion have killed at least 45 people.  Pakistani leaders have condemned the attack, saying the country is determined⁴ to tackle militancy⁵.

 

Local and American officials say terrorists used car bombs, grenades and automatic weapons to try to enter the heavily-guarded U.S diplomatic mission in Peshawar.

City police chief Liaqat Ali gave details to reporters on the scene.

The police officer says that after exploding a first car bomb to destroy the external security post, a second vehicle carrying two suicide bombers⁷ tried to make its way inside the American diplomatic mission.  But the pop-up barrier at the entrance stopped their movement and they detonated the second bomb.

Witnesses say several other militants⁸ dressed in military uniforms fired rocket-propelled grenades at the building, but security forces killed them.  U.S officials say two local security guards employed by the Consulate were among those killed in the attack, while a number of others were seriously wounded.

The attack happened hours after a suicide bomber⁶ blew himself up at a public rally in the Lower Dir district, about 200 kilometers from Peshawar.  Authorities say the blast instantly killed 40 people and wounded many others.

The Awami National Party had organized the rally to celebrate a government-supported proposal to change the name of the North West Frontier Province to Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa. 

The attacks in northwestern Pakistan took place just hours before President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the national parliament in Islamabad and vowed⁹ his country will defeat the militancy.

"Militancy and extremism have been the greatest threat to our national security in recent times. I assure you we will fight the militancy to the finish," he said.  "We will make peace with those willing to give up violence, but use force against those who challenge the write of the state."

The deadly attacks in northwestern parts of the country follow a relative calm and a significant decline in the frequency of insurgent¹⁰ violence.

Pakistani officials cite successful military operations against extremist forces in the country's tribal¹¹ areas near the Afghan border for the reduction in terrorist attacks.  But analysts¹² say Monday's coordinated attack on the U.S consulate in Peshawar indicates the insurgents¹³ are still capable of causing major damage.
 

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 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

3 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 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。

5 militancy   

n.warlike behavior or tendency

参考例句：

• Full of militancy and revolutionary ardour, the people of all nationalities in the country are working hard for the realization of the four modernizations. 全国各族人民意气风发， 斗志昂扬，为实现四个现代化而奋战。
• The seniority system is another factor that leads to union militancy. 排资论辈制度也是导致工会好斗争的另一因素。

6 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

7 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

10 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

11 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网