VOA标准英语2009年-Brown: Britain Played No Part in Lockerbie

For the first time since the release last week of convicted Lockerbie bomber¹ Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison and his return to Libya, Britain's prime minister has addressed the issue publicly.

Opposition² politicians say Prime Minister Gordon Brown's silence on the release of the only man convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 nearly 21 years ago shows poor leadership and a lack of courage.

After returning from summer vacation on Tuesday, Mr. Brown said he earlier told Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that the British government would played no part in any action regarding Megrahi's possible early release.
　
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown outside 10 Downing Street in London, 25 Aug 2009

"When I met [Libyan leader] Colonel [Moammar] Gadhafi over the summer, I made it absolutely clear to him that we had no role in making the decision about Megrahi's future," he said. "Because it was a quasi-judicial matter, because it was a matter legislated³ for by the Scottish Parliament and not by us, it was a matter over which we could not interfere⁴ and had no control over the final outcome."

But earlier, Mr. Gadhafi had thanked Mr. Brown for what he called his "influence" in allowing Megrahi to return to Libya.

The convicted bomber is suffering from terminal cancer. Authorities say his release was based on compassionate⁵ grounds. Megrahi was serving a life sentence for the 1988 jetliner bombing over Scotland that killed 270 people, most of whom were Americans.
　
In this image grab taken from a newscast on Libya's official television, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi (L) welcomes freed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (R) in Tripoli, 21 Aug 2009

His release has generated a wave of criticism in the United States - from leading politicians and the head of the Joint⁶ Chiefs of Staff to the director of the FBI - all condemning⁷ the transfer of Megrahi to Libya. Many family members of the American victims say they feel let down and several Internet Web sites are urging Americans to boycott⁸ British and Scottish goods and tourism.

Asked by reporters whether he felt the release could undermine relations between Britain and the United States, Prime Minister Brown said he has reassured⁹ U.S. leaders that Britain remains¹⁰ a vital partner in the war on terror.

"I made it absolutely clear that whatever the decision that is made on a quasi-judicial basis by the Scottish Parliament, our determination to fight terrorism is clear," he added. "It is shown in all the action we have taken since September the 11th. It is shown in the support we have given in Iraq and Afghanistan to dealing¹¹ with problems, where terrorism rears its ugly head. And it is shown in every action we are taking to protect the British people and protect people beyond Britain against the threat of terrorism."

Mr. Brown said he was angry and repulsed¹² by the popular reception Megrahi received in Tripoli. Megrahi maintains his innocence¹³ in the worst act of terrorism in British history.

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 legislated   

v.立法，制定法律( legislate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Congress has legislated a new minimum wage for workers. 国会制定了一项新的关于工人最低工资的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most member countries have already legislated against excessive overtime. 大多数成员国均已立法禁止超时加班。 来自辞典例句

4 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

5 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

9 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

12 repulsed   

v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝

参考例句：

• I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
• At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。