英美担心叙利亚可能使用了化学武器

 　　British Prime Minister David Cameron says there is growing evidence the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against rebels, backing up a report by U.S. intelligence agencies.

　　Prime Minister Cameron on Friday called the development "very disturbing," adding that it would amount to a war crime and should represent a "red line" for the international community.

　　On Thursday, the White House said U.S. spy agencies believe with "varying degrees of confidence" the Syrian government has used sarin gas on a small scale against rebels trying to overthrow¹ President Bashar al-Assad.

　　But the disclosure said the evidence was not conclusive² enough to change U.S. decision-making on the issue.

　　Some U.S. lawmakers have been more vocal³ in calling for the U.S. to intervene militarily in the conflict, which has killed at least 70,000 people since it began in March 2011.

　　Meanwhile, fighting raged on in the capital, Damascus, on Friday. The Syrian Observatory⁴ for Human Rights says "fierce clashes" between rebels and government troops broke out in the Barzeh neighborhood in north Damascus.

　　The Britain-based group also said rebels and troops fought in Jobar district east of the capital, as well as parts of southern Damascus. The group, which gets its information from a network of activists⁵ and fighters on the ground, said at least 130 people died from the fighting on Thursday.

1 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

2 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

3 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

4 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》