2006年VOA标准英语-Curfew Curbs Baghdad Violence But Sectarian Cla

By Benjamin Sand
Irbil, Iraq
27 October 2006

U.S. and Iraqi officials are embracing a five-day drop in violence across the capital, Baghdad. Attacks throughout much of the country surged during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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Worshippers protect themselves from the heat during a prayer in Sadr City, Friday, Oct. 27, 2006  
  
The Baghdad streets were relatively¹ quiet Friday, a welcome change after several weeks of escalating² violence.

Iraqi soldiers enforced a long-standing midday curfew in the capital.

On patrol in Baghdad, soldier Saad Saddam says he hopes security there will continue to improve.

He says the Interior Ministry³ has issued new and improved instructions. So far, he says, no serious attack has taken place.

Violence soared throughout much of Iraq during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ended Sunday for most Sunnis and a day later for Shi'ites.

U.S. officials say attacks in Baghdad neighborhoods, patrolled by U.S. forces, have dropped by 10 to 20 percent this week.

But even in Baghdad Friday there were fresh signs of insecurity.

U.S. forces continued their hunt for a missing U.S. soldier in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood.

The impoverished⁴ district is largely controlled by Shi'ite militiamen loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldier holds photocopied⁵ picture of missing soldier in central Baghdad's Karradah district, Tuesday Oct. 24, 2006  
  
The Iraqi-American soldier has been missing since Monday, sparking widespread concerns that he may have been kidnapped.

U.S.-led raids in Sadr City earlier this week sparked violent clashes, leaving at least 14 people dead.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki denounced the raids, despite promises to crack down on the country's sectarian militias⁶.

U.S. officials on Friday also confirmed a major battle between Iraqi police and Sunni insurgents⁷ near Baqouba, about 60 kilometers northeast of the capital.

The military said insurgents ambushed⁸ an Iraqi patrol Thursday morning. One civilian⁹ and 24 police were killed. U.S. forces provided air support and at least 18 insurgents were killed.

Sectarian clashes in and around Baqouba have intensified¹⁰ in recent weeks.

A series of brutal¹¹ revenge killings¹² between Sunni and Shi'ite militias there have left scores dead throughout the region.

Iraqi officials say more than 300 local police and soldiers have been killed nationwide in the past month. The U.S. death toll¹³ reached 96 on Friday, the deadliest month in over a year.

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 photocopied   

v.影印，照相复制（photocopy的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• If neatly done, this field map can be photocopied and serve as a permanent map. 假如能精致地完成，这张野外图可以照象复制并作为永久性的地图。 来自辞典例句
• She photocopied the town plan. 她复印了一份城市规划图。 来自互联网

6 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

7 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

8 ambushed   

v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

12 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

13 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。