VOA标准英语2009年-Gunmen Ambush Sri Lanka Cricket Team in Pakista

Pakistani officials say at least six people are dead after 12 gunmen attacked the police-escorted convoy¹ transporting the Sri Lankan cricket team. Officials report five police officers and one driver were killed and six players and their British assistant coach were wounded. Despite a city-wide search, none of the attackers has been reported killed or captured.
　
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside The Gaddafi Stadium after an attack by masked gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, 03 Mar² 2009

Witnesses of the brazen³ mid-morning attack said gunmen targeted the convoy when it was about 100 meters from Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium - Pakistan's premier⁴ cricket venue⁵. The convoy included several vehicles carrying police and commandoes.

Pakistani umpire Nadeem Ghori was in a vehicle traveling behind the team bus when gunfire broke out.

He says when the explosions and firing started, one bullet hit the driver and killed him instantly. He said the rest of us just laid down on the floor.

One vehicle ahead, the driver of the Sri Lankan team bus, Mehar Mohammed Khalil, said gunmen fired on the three lead police cars before targeting his vehicle.

He says the police cars swerved⁶ away and then a man with a rocket launcher fired on the bus. The rocket missed, then he says a second man threw a grenade, which also went past its target. He says a man driving in a nearby car then got out and shot at the front of the bus. Khalil says he continued driving toward the stadium, where police reinforcements were beginning to launch a counterattack.

Witnesses said fighting lasted for 30 minutes, before the attackers fled. A Pakistani television network filmed three of the gunmen while the assault was underway. The footage showed unmasked men, carrying automatic weapons and backpacks.

In Colombo, Sri Lankan officials denounced the incident as a "cowardly terrorist attack," but refrained from blaming Pakistani authorities for having lax security. The foreign secretary said little could have been done to stop such an attack.

Some of the Sri Lankan players were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Others waited at the cricket stadium, until a Pakistani military helicopter landed on the pitch to fly them to the Lahore airport.

Sri Lankan officials say they are bringing the entire team home as soon as possible. The Punjab governor said the attack resembled last November's terrorist attack in Mumbai, which India maintains was planned and carried out by Pakistanis. There was some speculation⁷ the attack could have links to Sri Lanka's civil war, but analysts⁸ said it appeared unlikely.

Pakistan's foreign ministry⁹ said the perpetrators were enemies of Pakistan's "close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship" with Sri Lanka.

The attack drew widespread media attention throughout South Asia, where cricket is a national sport.

The Sri Lankan team was standing¹⁰ in for India, which had withdrawn¹¹ after the Mumbai attacks. International cricket teams have been reluctant to come to Pakistan because of concerns over security - last year, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies cancelled matches in Pakistan because of security concerns.

Indian officials responded to the attack by saying it unfortunately confirmed their fears the Indian team would not have been safe playing in Pakistan.

An Australian cameraman who was in Lahore to film the match told Pakistani reporters the entire ordeal¹² has damaged Pakistani cricket.

"I think it is a great pity. I mean, Pakistan has been without cricket for 14 months. We have been looked after very well, we have felt very safe," he said. "It is so unfortunate for the future of Pakistan cricket because no teams are going to come here for a long time now. It is such a shame."

Cricket watchers said it is unlikely Pakistan will participate in jointly¹³ holding the 2011 Cricket World Cup - the sport's biggest championship.

1 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

2 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

3 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

4 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

5 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

6 swerved   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
• The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅，司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 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。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

12 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

13 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。