VOA标准英语2011--Senegal Accuses Iran of Supplying Weapon

Senegal has severed¹ diplomatic relations with Iran, accusing it of supplying weapons to separatist rebels in the southern Casamance region where three Senegalese soldiers were killed in attacks over the weekend.
The two countries' previously² strong diplomatic ties have been strained since October, when 13 containers loaded with weapons from Iran were seized at the Nigerian port of Lagos.
The weapons were reportedly bound for the Gambia, which separates the rest of Senegal from the Casamance region. Rebels in Casamance have waged a low-level insurgency³ for independence since the 1980s.
Concerned that the weapons were destined⁴ for rebel hands, Senegal recalled its ambassador to Iran in December, only to send him back to Tehran in January.
Since then, however, Senegal's foreign affairs minister, Madicke Niang, says troubling information has come to light.
Niang says a report by the head of the Senegalese army says the rebels have sophisticated weapons, that in Niang's words, "did not fall from the sky." He says reliable sources have determined⁵ that these arms came from Iran. He says Senegal cannot maintain relations with a country that is working to destabilize it.
The Ministry⁶ of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Wednesday cutting diplomatic ties with Iran and blaming these "sophisticated arms" for the deaths of Senegalese soldiers in the Casamance.
According to the statement, Iran's foreign affairs minister met with Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade⁷ on February 19 and admitted that Iran had delivered large lots of arms to the Gambia multiple times, and that the cargo⁸ seized in Nigeria contained munitions⁹ destined for the Gambia, which severed ties with Iran in December.
Foreign Affairs Minister Niang says Senegal should have been informed of these actions. He says it would have been "a minimum amount of courtesy" and an obligation considering the intensity¹⁰ of the relationship that Senegal has developed with Iran.
It is unclear what impact this diplomatic divorce will have on Iran's economic interests in Senegal, including a $200 million joint-economic cooperation pact¹¹ signed in January and Iranian car manufacturing activities outside of Dakar.
A suspected Iranian arms dealer¹² and his Nigerian counterpart are currently on trial in Nigeria in connection with the weapons shipment, which included mortars¹³, grenades, rockets and anti-aircraft ammunition¹⁴.
Nigeria reported Iran to the United Nations Security Council for the arms shipment intercepted¹⁵ in October because it appears to breach¹⁶ sanctions imposed on Tehran for its nuclear program.
The United States and other countries accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge.

1 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 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。

7 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

8 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

9 munitions   

n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品

参考例句：

• The army used precision-guided munitions to blow up enemy targets.军队用精确瞄准的枪炮炸掉敌方目标。
• He rose [made a career for himself] by dealing in munitions.他是靠贩卖军火发迹的。

10 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

11 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

12 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

13 mortars   

n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵

参考例句：

• They could not move their heavy mortars over the swampy ground. 他们无法把重型迫击炮移过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Where the hell are his mortars? 他有迫击炮吗？ 来自教父部分

14 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

15 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

16 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。