英国新闻听力 北约的误杀事件

 

Reports from Afghanistan say at least four Afghan policemen and five civilians¹ have been killed in an air attack in the early hour of the morning during clashes with US-led coalition² forces.The incident happened in the western province of Farah.In a separate incident in the eastern Paktika province on Saturday night,NATO officials said their forces had killed four other civilians.From kabul, Martin Patience reports.

There was darkness and much confusion when the fighting took place in early hours of the morning.The police had opened fire on a joint³ convoy⁴ of Afghan National Army and foreign troops,believing incorrectly that they were Taliban fighters.On hearing the gunfire,a number of locals have rushed to support the police, foreign troops caught in air strikes during the clashes, killing⁵ several policemen and civilians.In a separate incident NATO-led forces admitted killing at least four civilians in the east of the country on Saturday night.A military spokesman said that two mortar⁶ shells have landed near a kilometre from their intended target.

1 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。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。