VOA常速英语2007年-Twin Car Bombs Kill More Than 60 in Algeria

By Challiss McDonough
Beirut
11 December 2007

Two car bombs have exploded in the Algerian capital, killing¹ at least 62 people and injuring scores more. One of the blasts targeted several U.N. offices, and the United Nations says at least 12 staff members are missing. VOA Middle East and North Africa Correspondent Challiss McDonough has more from Beirut.

The bombs exploded within minutes of each other. One targeted Algeria's constitutional court building, while the other tore apart several buildings used by the United Nations and other aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

U.N. officials said most of the U.N. casualties were in the offices of the U.N. Development Program and the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR.

Many of the people killed by the explosion outside the Supreme² Court were university students riding a school bus that took the brunt of the blast.

Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni told reporters the death toll³ is very high.

He said, "What we do know for certain is that these were car bombs." He said a suicide bomber⁴ drove the vehicle that exploded near the offices of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The attacks drew swift condemnation⁵ from around the world, including statements of outrage⁶ from the United Nations, the European Union and the White House.

President Bush condemned⁷ the attack on the U.N. office by those he called, the enemies of humanity. He said the United States stands with the people of Algeria, as well as with the United Nations as they deal with the senseless violence.

There was no immediate⁸ claim of responsibility for the bombings, but speculation⁹ immediately focused on the group known as the al-Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, or North Africa. It claimed responsibility for a series of deadly bomb attacks in Algeria during the past year, including one in April that killed 33 people.

The group's previous attacks targeted Algerian government institutions and Western interests in the country. It was previously¹⁰ known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, but changed its name in January when it established formal ties with the international al-Qaida terror network.

1 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。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 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。

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 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

6 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

7 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 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。

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。