VOA慢速英语--Saudi Arabia Changes Its Story of Khashoggi Disappearance

 

CNN television has reported about a new video linked to the disappearance¹ and suspected killing² of Jamal Khashoggi.

The video appears to show a man wearing Khashoggi’s clothes leaving Saudi diplomatic offices on October 2 with another person. CNN said Turkish law enforcement cameras recorded the video.

CNN said the video suggests someone was pretending to be Khashoggi, possibly to hide the killing. Turkish state-run broadcaster TRT also reported that a man wearing Khashoggi’s clothes left the consulate³ building.

Jamal Khashoggi entered the consulate on October 2nd and has not been seen in public since.

Saudi Arabian officials have changed their explanation about Khashoggi’s disappearance several times.

At first, the Saudi government said that he left the consulate in Istanbul and that officials did not know where he was. Then, it said that Khashoggi died in a fight inside the consulate. Most recently, they have said that Khoshoggi choked to death while being prevented from leaving the consulate to call for help.

Turkish leader warns of more details

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will give details of the case in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.

He told supporters in Istanbul Sunday, "We are looking for justice here…” and that the truth would be told.

In addition, Erdogan spoke⁴ to American President Donald Trump⁵ by telephone on Sunday. Turkish state-run media said the two agreed that the Khashoggi case needed to be “cleared up.”

Turkish officials say they have sound recordings⁶ and video evidence of Khashoggi being tortured and killed inside the Saudi consulate.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that Khashoggi died in, what he called, a “rogue⁷ operation.”

Al-Jubeir offered sympathies to Khashoggi’s family. He said that any attempt to “cover up” wrongdoing was “unacceptable in any government.” The foreign minister also denied reports that powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin⁸ Salman was involved.

Saudi Arabia says Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his sympathy to Khashoggi’s son on Monday. They spoke by telephone.

Saudi Arabia also says it has dismissed five officials linked to the suspected death and have arrested 18 others. It says an investigation⁹ is being carried out.

News reports have said 15 Saudi agents were involved in the operation. Some people question how a team of 15 Saudi agents could travel to Istanbul without the crown prince’s knowledge.

Some U.S. lawmakers, including members of the president’s Republican Party, have expressed concern about the apparent killing. They are demanding punishment for Saudi Arabia.

President Trump has said Saudi Arabia could be punished. But, he has said he is unwilling¹⁰ to cancel a $110-billion arms deal reached last year with the Kingdom.

Khashoggi’s family has links to the Saudi Royal family. His father was a Turk who served as the personal doctor to King Abdulaziz Al Saud the founder¹¹ of Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi has been a reporter since the 1980s.

Most recently, he wrote opinion pieces for the Washington Post newspaper. Khashoggi has been critical of the Saudi government and has called for democratic reforms in countries across the Middle East.

Khashoggi was at the consulate to get documents linked to his planned marriage to Turkish citizen Hatice Cengiz. She stood near the door of the consulate for hours waiting for him. When he did not appear, she reported his disappearance.

I’m Mario Ritter. And I’m Caty Weaver¹².

Words in This Story

journalist –n. the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television or radio

body double –n. a person who takes an actor’s place in a movie or television show; a person who takes the place of someone else

choke –v. to cause someone to stop breathing by squeezing the throat

rogue –adj. something that is different from others usually in a dangerous or harmful way

condolences –n. expressions of sympathy and sadness usually at the death of a family member or friend

1 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

2 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。

3 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。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

7 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

8 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

11 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

12 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。