VOA标准英语2013--土耳其腐败丑闻的地区影响

（单词翻译）

Turkish Corruption¹ Scandal Fallout Could Spread Across Region 土耳其腐败丑闻的地区影响

A corruption scandal rocking Turkey forced sudden turnover² in the cabinet of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  As uncertainty³ spreads, there's a chance the impact  could extend beyond Turkey's borders.

The allegations of illicit⁴ money transfers and bribery⁵ for construction projects have already ensnared top ministers and their sons, forcing a defiant⁶ Erdogan to  reshuffle his cabinet.

The developments have touched a nerve with an anxious public, some taking to the streets, clashing with police and calling on the government, and the prime minister,  to step down.

"I think the picture is of a paralyzed Turkey which is continuing to burn bridges," said Soli Ozel with Istanbul's private Kadir Has University

Turkish newspapers are rife⁷ with speculation⁸, some suggesting that diplomats⁹ at the U.S. embassy in Ankara were actively¹⁰ campaigning against the current government. 

The U.S. calls such allegations "baseless" and "deeply disturbing" but has otherwise been cautious.....

"We have no comment on the specifics of these cases,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said last week. “We would reiterate¹¹ that we expect Turkey to meet the  highest standards for transparency, timeliness, and fairness in its judicial¹² system."

And while Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is still in place, the scandal could also impact Turkey's role in the Middle East, where it has worked to bolster¹³  its profile by trying to play key roles in Iraq and Syria.

Complicating¹⁴ the situation further are allegations that Iran is tied to the corruption scandal, with Iranian businessmen bribing¹⁵ Turkish officials in order to use  Turkish banks to evade¹⁶ international sanctions.