VOA标准英语2011--Syrian Forces Attack Demonstrators Near

Syrian Forces Attack Demonstrators Near Turkish Border

Mourners across Syria laid to rest the bodies of dozens of people killed when government forces fired on anti-government demonstrators, and military units are continuing their crackdown against the town of Jisr al-Shughour, near the Turkish border. In Yemen, officials say at least 30 government soldiers and suspected militants¹ have been killed in fighting in southern Abyan Province.
Witnesses in northern Syria say government attack helicopters are being used to strafe targets in several besieged² towns. Videos on Facebook show the helicopters firing on towns with what residents say is large-caliber ammunition³.
Several witnesses told Al Jazeera TV the helicopters "fired indiscriminately on groups of refugees from the air."
Arab satellite channels also broadcast videos of several army officers announcing that they had quit in order to defend unarmed civilians⁴ in towns that have come under government attack. Witnesses report that rebel officers have taken up positions inside the town of Jisr al-Shughour, under assault by government tanks.
Much of Jisr al-Shughour appears to be deserted⁵. Residents fled through fields into neighboring Turkey, and several witnesses said Syrian troops set fire to fields and fired on fleeing residents. Turkey has set up tents on its side of the border for more than 4,000 refugees.
Syrian government TV's version of events says "terrorist gangs" had taken control of Jisr al-Shughour, harming civilians and stealing food supplies. The state-run broadcaster said the Syrian Army moved in "to bring bread and restore security," and that people in the region welcomed the troops "with open arms."
State TV reported that a group of Lebanese journalists escorted by Syrian government officials came under fire on the outskirts⁶ of Jisr al-Shughour. Most foreign correspondents are not being allowed into Syria and it is difficult to confirm developments on the ground.
Hundreds of mourners chanted slogans against the government Saturday in the Damascus suburb of Qaboun for the funeral of slain⁷ protester Ali Wafiq Ramadan - one of at least 32 protesters reported killed during demonstrations⁸ across the country on Friday.
Al Arabiya TV reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem sent a message to the U.N. demanding that the Security Council abstain⁹ from "interfering¹⁰ in Syrian internal affairs." The foreign minister also warned that any international condemnation¹¹ of Damascus would "encourage extremists and terrorists."
The U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has complained that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is refusing to accept his telephone calls, with underlings demanding to know the reason for Mr. Ban's call before putting him through.
In Yemen, Deputy Information Minister Abou Janadi insisted that Vice¹² President Abd al-Rab Mansur Hadi was in charge of the country in the absence of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who left for Saudi Arabia last week after suffering serious injuries in a rocket attack. The spokesman disputed reports that Mr. Saleh's son, Ahmed, either had seized power or would move to do so.
Reports from Saudi Arabia say President Saleh is in serious condition in a hospital there, recuperating¹³ from surgery to remove shrapnel from his wounds that had affected¹⁴ his breathing.
Clashes between government forces and al-Qaida rebels in the Yemeni coastal¹⁵ town of Zinjibar and another area nearby left 21 militants dead Saturday. Nine soldiers also were killed according to Yemen's defense¹⁶ ministry¹⁷. Al-Qaida militants seized control of Zinjibar last month.

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 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

3 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

6 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

7 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

8 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

9 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

10 interfering   

adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词

参考例句：

• He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
• I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。

11 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 recuperating   

v.恢复（健康、体力等），复原( recuperate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's still recuperating from his operation. 他动了手术，还在恢复。
• He is recuperating from a serious back injury. 他背部受了重伤，目前正在康复中。 来自辞典例句

14 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

15 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

16 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。

17 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。