VOA标准英语2010年-Al-Qaida Denies Local Commander Killed

A statement attributed to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is challenging Yemen's claim it killed a top militant¹ commander and five other members of the local terror offshoot.

The internet message denied local al-Qaida commander Qassim al-Raimi and the others were killed in an attack Friday.

It allowed that some "brothers," a reference to fellow militants², were slightly injured in the raid near Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia.

The claims and counterclaims are the latest to be exchanged in the murky³ conflict between Yemen's government and an apparently⁴ resurgent Yemen-based al-Qaida group.

The resident director of the American Institute for Yemeni Studies, Stephen Steinbeiser, says without hard evidence, it is difficult to know what is going on.

"Most people are very skeptical⁵ of the daily news that they hear from news sources in Yemen and it is difficult for journalists to get into very volatile⁶ areas for obvious reasons.  I am not sure how you can get the actual events of what is going on," he said.

Steinbeiser says witnesses traveling from conflict zones are often a good source of information.  In recent weeks, such first-person accounts have diverged⁷ dramatically from the government's version of events, but could not be independently verified.

The institute director says that the government's talk of victory against al-Qaida members certainly helps dampen rumors⁸ circulating in Yemen the United States might send troops to the impoverished⁹ nation - despite statements by both sides that no such action is planned - or just step up its involvement.

"By showing that it is actually being effective in combating terrorism inside the country, I think the government can stave off more invasive efforts, whether they are from the U.S. or European countries or whatever, can stave off more outside influence in trying to ensure terrorism does not make further inroads into the country of Yemen," he said.
 
The United States and others have increased their focus on al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula since it claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to bring down a U.S. airliner¹⁰ last month.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 murky   

adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗

参考例句：

• She threw it into the river's murky depths.她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处。
• She had a decidedly murky past.她的历史背景令人捉摸不透。

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 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 diverged   

分开( diverge的过去式和过去分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳

参考例句：

• Who knows when we'll meet again? 不知几时咱们能再见面！
• At what time do you get up? 你几时起床？

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。