2006年VOA标准英语-Suicide Bombing Kills at Least 10 in Baghdad Sh

By Meredith Buel
Washington
16 June 2006
 
A suicide bomber¹ has killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 20 others inside a Shi'ite mosque² in Baghdad.  The deadly explosion came as a massive security operation continued in the Iraqi capital.  Despite the violence, a top U.S. military official says the level of bloodshed in Baghdad has dropped in recent days.

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Guard, right, walks inside mosque at the where shoe bomber blew himself up during Friday prayers  
  

Iraqi police say the bomber walked into the Buratha Mosque as worshipers began to gather for Friday prayers.

Witnesses on the scene say the man hid the explosives in his shoes, and blew himself up when confronted by guards.

The mosque, which is used by members of Iraq's Shi'ite majority, has been attacked before. In April, three suicide bombers³ targeted worshippers, killing⁴ more than 70 people.

The violence came during a massive security operation in Baghdad, ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in an effort to curb⁵ sectarian violence and attacks by al-Qaida insurgents⁶.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon via teleconference from Baghdad, U.S. Major General James Thurman said the operation is designed to disrupt terrorist cells, and target groups opposed to the Iraqi government.

"We have seen a drop in violence, and expect that trend to continue with the implementation⁷ of the Baghdad security plan," he said.  "We will put more Iraqi security forces in the lead in the coming days."

Tens-of-thousands of Iraqi troops and police, backed by coalition⁸ forces, are patrolling in Baghdad.

General Thurman says, it is important to note that Iraqi forces are leading the effort.

"This security of Baghdad is about Iraqis," he added.  "This is about Iraq, the Iraqi government, stepping forward, and taking action to lower this violence.  That is what this is about.  This is not about the coalition, and I want to stress that point."

The crackdown, which began earlier this week, and is dubbed⁹ Operation Forward Together, is one of the largest since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The effort follows the death of the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in an air strike last week.

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

6 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

7 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

8 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。

9 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》