VOA标准英语2008年-Gunfire at Kosovo Prime Minister's Home, Suspec

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
08 June 2008

Police in Kosovo say they have detained a teenager over his alleged¹ involvement in a gun battle at the home of Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. Stefan Bos reports for VOA from Budapest that the government has condemned² the violence as "an act against the rule of law" in the young Balkan state.
　

A Kosovan police officer stands guard in front of the sealed road leading to the residence of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Pristina, 07 Jun 2008

Police say they have arrested a 19-year-old ethnic³ Albanian man who was wounded in a shootout with security guards protecting Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and his family. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was apparently⁴ found after his father tipped the authorities.

He is believed to be among several armed assailants who attempted Friday to enter the home of Mr. Thaci in the capital, Pristina.

Gunfire reportedly broke out when guards spotted⁵ one person trying to break into the two-story building from the balcony of the top floor. Mr. Thaci was not there at the time. His wife and son were at home, but officials say they were not hurt.

The attackers escaped. However at least one of them, apparently the detained teenager, was shot and injured. Television networks have been showing footage of bloodstains at the scene.

Speaking through an interpreter on France 24 Television, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi has described the violence as an attack on Kosovo's rule of law and democratic institutions.

"The fact that someone has tried to hurt the prime minister and his family for whatever reason is not only criminal. It goes beyond any political hatred⁶ or impatience⁷."
　

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci (file photo)

Prime Minister Thaci has condemned the assault on his family, but urged his citizens to remain calm.

The motive⁸ behind the attack is unclear. Investigators⁹ have quoted the suspect as saying he didn't knew it was the prime minister's house and that he "just wanted to steal something." Crime has been widespread in Kosovo.

Analysts¹⁰ point out that the attack comes at a time when Thaci's security is already an issue following his decision to declare predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo independent from Serbia last February.

That move has been opposed by Serbia and Kosovo's Serbian minority. In addition, relations between ethnic Albanian political parties in Kosovo have been marked by tensions and bitter rivalry¹¹.

Mr. Thaci heads an uneasy coalition¹² government with the party of late pacifist President Ibrahim Rugova, once his main rival.

He is also at odds¹³ with former prime minister and rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj who was recently acquitted¹⁴ by the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal of crimes committed during the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 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。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

6 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

7 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。

8 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

12 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。

13 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

14 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。