VOA标准英语2008年-Pakistan Asks for British Help in Bhutto Probe

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
02 January 2008

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has asked Britain help to investigate the assassination¹ of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. In a televised speech to the nation Wednesday night, the president also said troops will be deployed² to ensure security for the general elections postponed⁴ till February 18 following Bhutto's death. At the same time, Mr. Musharraf says he backs the election commission's decision to delay parliamentary elections until February 18. Ayaz Gul reports for VOA from Islamabad.

President Musharraf says that a team of British experts from Scotland Yard will shortly arrive in Pakistan to help authorities investigate the death of Benazir Bhutto, which he called a great national tragedy.

The killing⁵ of the Pakistani opposition⁶ leader has touched off a wave of deadly unrest by her supporters, who blame the government for not doing enough to ensure her security.

The Pakistani leader said the decision to seek foreign assistance was made to dispel⁷ any confusion or suspicions surrounding Ms. Bhutto's death.

Mr. Musharraf says al-Qaida linked terrorists were involved in attacks in Pakistan and he has no doubts they were behind the assassination of Ms. Bhutto.

The United States welcomed Pakistan's request for British police assistance, and said it is also ready to help. The White House on Wednesday call on all Pakistani politicians to urge their supporters to refrain from violence.

Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party has accused the government of washing away forensic⁸ evidence from the scene of the assassination and trying to cover-up its failure to protect the top politician. Some critics say the possibility of involvement of elements from within the Pakistan establishment in the assassination cannot be ruled out.

Ms. Bhutto was killed following an election rally in Rawalpindi last Thursday when an unknown attacker opened fire on her with a handgun and then blew himself up.

Speaking to reporters minutes after Musharraf's speech, Ms. Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari reiterated⁹ his demand that a United Nations commission be set up to investigate the death of his wife.

The Pakistani government has been under pressure from inside and outside the country to seek foreign assistance in the probe.

President Musharraf also defended a decision by the country's election commission to postpone³ next week's parliamentary elections until February 18. He said that in the wake of bloody¹⁰ protests and tensions triggered by Ms. Bhutto's killing, army and paramilitary forces will be deployed to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

Opposition parties, including Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, have condemned¹¹ the decision to delay the polls but they say they will take part in the elections.

1 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

4 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

5 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。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

8 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

9 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

10 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

11 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。