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　　In Afghanistan, concerns are growing about security for the country's presidential election later this month amid an increase in violence. At least nine NATO troops have died in clashes with insurgents² in Afghanistan over two days, and militants⁴ have stepped up attacks on election candidates and their staff. The top U.N. official in Afghanistan said any comprehensive effort to end the violence would have to include talks with top-level Taliban leaders.
在阿富汗，人们在当前暴力不断增加的局势下，对本月稍晚举行总统大选的安全问题越来越感到担忧。至少有9名北约军人在过去两天内，在阿富汗境内与叛乱分子冲突时丧生。联合国驻阿富汗高级官员说，任何终止暴力的全面性努力，都需要包含与塔利班高层领导人的会谈。
The killing⁵ of more than 70 foreign soldiers in July made it the deadliest month for the U.S.-led coalition⁶ fighting the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. But there is no let up in the bloody⁷ trend in August as the country prepares to hold its second presidential election since the removal of the Taliban from power in 2001.
在7月有超过70名外国军人死亡，这是在阿富汗由美国领导对抗塔利班反叛分子的联军死伤最惨重的一个月。但是，这种血腥的趋势在8月份也不会缓解，因为阿富汗正在准备自2001年推翻塔利班政权后的第二次总统大选。
NATO officials say that armed militants in an eastern Afghan region attacked U.S troops on Sunday, soon after hitting their convoy⁸ with a roadside bomb. The clash left three American soldiers dead. Six other troops, including three Americans, were killed Saturday.
北约官员们说，武装激进分子星期天在东阿富汗地区先以路边炸弹袭击美国部队的车队，接着对他们加以攻击。这场冲突导致三名美国军人死亡。另外在星期六则有六名军人被杀，当中包括三名美国人。
Authorities say Taliban extremists and their allies are behind increased attacks on election-related activities across the country.
当局说，和阿富汗境内选举相关的攻击活动增加，塔利班极端分子以及他们的盟友都是幕后黑手。
The latest attack took place on Saturday, when suspected Taliban militants ambushed⁹ a convoy carrying Afghan President Hamid Karzai's campaign workers. The attack killed one guard and wounded two others.
最近的一次攻击发生在星期六，被怀疑是塔利班激进分子的人突袭了一个运载阿富汗总统卡尔扎伊竞选工作人员的车队。这起攻击导致了一名警卫死亡，以及另外两个人受伤。
Last week, President Karzai offered peace talks to Taliban militants who are prepared to renounce¹⁰ violence. Mr. Karzai's offer was echoed by U.S. and British officials, who called for the reintegration of Taliban fighters into Afghanistan's political system, if they renounce violence and extremism.
上个星期，卡尔扎伊总统表示愿意和准备放弃暴力的塔利班激进分子举行和平谈判。卡尔扎伊的提议得到美国和英国官员的支持；这两个国家都呼吁，只要塔利班战斗人员放弃暴力以及极端主义，就可以让他们重返阿富汗政治体系。
At a news conference in Kabul on Sunday, the U.N. Special Representative in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, said peace talks should include top Taliban leaders.
星期天在喀布尔的一个记者会上，联合国驻阿富汗特使卡伊.艾德说，和平会谈应该包括塔利班领导人。
"If you want relevant results, you have to talk to those who are relevant," he said. "If you only have a partial reconciliation¹¹ process, you will have partial results. If you do want a comprehensive peace process, it is not enough to talk to commanders on the ground. It is a political process, and I think you also have to approach the more political structures of the insurgency¹² movement."
艾德说：“如果你想要得到实际的成果，你必须与那些有实权的人会谈。如果你只进行部分的和解进程，那你只会得到部分的结果。如果你真想要全面性的和平进程，只跟战场上指挥官的会谈是不够的。这是一项政治进程，而我想你同时必须与反叛运动当中较为政治性的架构作接触。”
The U.N envoy¹³ did not name any insurgent¹ leaders, such as fugitive¹⁴ chief of the Taliban insurgents, Mullah Omar. The militant³ leader has rejected previous offers of peace talks by President Karzai, saying no dialogue can take place while U.S-led coalition forces are present in Afghanistan. But Mr. Karzai has dismissed this demand, saying the presence of international troops is in the interest of his country.
这位联合国特使并没有指名任何一位反叛领导人，如正在逃亡的塔利班首脑毛拉.奥马尔。这名激进分子领导人拒绝了卡尔扎伊总统之前的和平会谈提议。他说只要美国领导的联军仍在阿富汗，就不会有对话产生。但卡尔扎伊驳斥了这样的要求，他说国际部队的存在对阿富汗有利。
While expressing concerns over alleged¹⁵ irregularities and Taliban attacks on those taking part in the election, U.N. Representative Eide, said the presidential election is most challenging for both the Afghans and the international community.
除了对于所谓的骚乱，以及塔利班对参与选举的人们进行攻击表达了关切之外，联合国特使艾德也说，这场总统大选对阿富汗人以及国际社会而言，都是最具挑战性的。
"First of all, this is a country in a conflict. Secondly¹⁶, it is a country with weak institutions, and it is a country with weak infrastructure¹⁷ and very high illiteracy¹⁸ rate," he said. "It is the most complex election, I have ever witnessed. This being said, it is my assessment¹⁹ that, what we have seen is by and large a dignified²⁰ political campaign. We have never witnessed such a vibrant²¹ political debate in this country. And, we have never seen such involvement by the public as we have seen during these few weeks."
艾德说：“首先，这个国家依旧处于冲突之中。第二，这个国家的制度很不健全，基础建设也很脆弱，同时文盲比率也很高。这是一场我目睹过的最复杂的选举。尽管如此，根据我的估计，我们正看到的是到目前为止，一场巨大的，并且庄重的政治活动。我们从没有在这个国家目睹过这样充满活力的政治辩论。而且我们也从没有看过像过去几个星期以来，大众如此的投入。”
The stepped up militant violence also comes as U.S.-led forces are engaged in a major offensive in southern parts of the country aimed at improving security ahead of the August 20 election, with President Karzai seen as the front-runner from among as many as 40 candidates.
就在激进份子逐步升级暴力活动的同时，美国领导的部队在阿富汗南部地区为改善选举安全而发动了大规模攻势。总统大选将于8月20号举行，现任总统卡尔扎伊在40位候选人当中一马当先。