VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistani Military Targeted in Suicide Attack a

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
01 November 2007

A suicide bomb attack on a Pakistani Air Force bus has killed at least eight people and wounded several more. The attack comes as officials reported some 70 more militants¹ have been killed in the latest fighting in northwest Pakistan's Swat valley. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad.

Government officials in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province said security forces and pro-Taliban militants continued heavy fighting Thursday for control of Swat valley.

Provincial² Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir said the latest fighting started when militants attacked a post of security forces.

He said government forces and militants fought using heavy weapons and 70 militants died in the battle. He denied reports that dozens of security forces have been surrounded in one region and were preparing to surrender. He said militants have been using hit-and-run attacks and not fighting pitched battles.

Residents reported artillery³ fire and helicopter air strikes in the valley Thursday. Thousands of people have fled the region, and the government has set up temporary camps for some of the displaced.

Far southeast of Swat, in Punjab province, a suicide bomber⁴ rammed⁵ a bus carrying Air Force personnel, killing⁶ eight people. The attack was the latest in a series of suicide bombings against military and political targets in Pakistan.

The violence comes as Pakistan's high court considers several politically charged cases that could dramatically alter upcoming national elections. On Thursday, justices heard arguments in a case challenging President Pervez Musharraf's unofficial reelection as president.

A judge dismissed speculation⁷ that the court would be swayed by rumors⁸ that General Musharraf would declare martial⁹ law, if the court rules against him. The judge insisted the legality of his re-election would be decided¹⁰ under Pakistan's constitution.

Mr. Musharraf's political rival, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, flew to Dubai on Thursday to visit her family. She arrived in Pakistan last month after an eight-year absence, but the homecoming was marred¹¹ by a suicide attack that killed more than 140 people.

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

3 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

4 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。

5 rammed   

v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus. 公共汽车从后面撞来，出租车上的两位乘客受了伤。
• I rammed down the earth around the newly-planted tree. 我将新栽的树周围的土捣硬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。