VOA常速英语2007年-Brutal Attacks Prompt Italy to Authorize Expuls

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
02 November 2007

The Italian government has given local authorities the power to expel European Union citizens who pose a threat to public security. The government action follows the rape¹ and murder of an Italian woman by a Romanian national near a gypsy camp in Rome. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.

Italian authorities say Giovanna Reggiani, 47, died Thursday night. The wife of an Italian naval² commander, she was attacked late Tuesday in Rome as she walked along a road toward the barracks where she lived. Police say she was beaten, dragged through mud and left half naked in a ditch.

An officer said the police were alerted by a bus driver who had been told of the crime by an eyewitness³. He said the bus driver was able to give the location of the woman's body underneath⁴ a bridge.

Police arrested Romanian Nicolae Mailat, 24, and charged him with the crime. Mailat lives in one of several sprawling⁵ settlements on the outskirts⁶ of Rome where thousands of foreigners - some legal and some not - live in make-shift shelters or trailers.

Italy has been rocked by a series of recent crimes attributed to mostly Romanian immigrants. The latest incident prompted the government to hold an extraordinary cabinet meeting Wednesday night. The cabinet approved a measure allowing the expulsion of European Union citizens for what it called "reasons of public safety" and to fight "episodes of heavy violence and ferocious⁷ crime."

Officials in Brussels said the Italian government appeared to be within the terms of a European directive that allows member states to expel citizens of other EU countries if they are a threat to public health, public security, or have insufficient⁸ means. But, the decree does not include the final provision.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said the new measure was not the government acting⁹ out of rage, but evidence that it is determined¹⁰ to keep a high and just level of security for citizens. Mr. Prodi said the government will continue to be vigilant¹¹ and make sure that these violent acts do not repeat themselves.

The free movement of EU citizens within the bloc's 27 member nations is a cornerstone of EU policy. Italy has faced a large influx¹² of Romanians since the country's accession to the European Union this year. Authorities say over 1,000 Romanian immigrants arrive in Italy each month.

They also say Romanians have been accused of committing 76 murders since June last year. Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni says 75 percent of arrests for murder, rape and robbery in the city this year are attributed to Romanians.

The Romanian prime minister has responded by sending police liaison¹³ officers to major Italian cities to help. Following the latest incident there are plans to step up security and police coordination¹⁴ efforts between Italy and Romania.

1 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 eyewitness   

n.目击者，见证人

参考例句：

• The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
• He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。

4 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

5 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

6 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

7 ferocious   

adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的

参考例句：

• The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
• The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。

8 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

9 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

12 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

13 liaison   

n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通

参考例句：

• She acts as a liaison between patients and staff.她在病人与医护人员间充当沟通的桥梁。
• She is responsible for liaison with researchers at other universities.她负责与其他大学的研究人员联系。

14 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。