The State Department says the attack on the U.S. embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, was apparently an attempt by terrorists to breach the walls of the heavily-guarded facility. Officials say the attack bore all the hallmarks of an al-Qaida operation, though they have not concluded who is to blame.
美国国务院说， 星期三发生在美国驻也门首都萨那大使馆的袭击似乎是恐怖分子所为，他们这样做是为了炸开重兵把守的使馆的外墙。有关官员说，这起袭击具有基地组织行动的一切特征，但是他们还不能肯定肇事者到底是谁。
State Department officials are crediting Yemeni guards, and stepped-up embassy security measures, for thwarting what was apparently an attempt by terrorists to blast a hole through the walls of the diplomatic compound and kill those inside.
国务院有关官员赞扬也门警卫和使馆加强的安全措施挫败了恐怖分子的计划。这些恐怖分子似乎企图在使馆大院的院墙上炸一个洞，然后谋害使馆里面的人。
According to preliminary information from Sanaa, two vehicle-bombs exploded outside the main entrance of the U.S. compound, which was also attacked by gunmen on foot who may have hoped to enter the facility through a breach in the walls caused by the second blast.
根据来自萨那的初步信息，两枚汽车炸弹星期三在美国使馆大院正门外爆炸，使馆也受到步行的枪手的袭击。这些枪手可能想从第二起爆炸在院墙上炸出的裂缝中进入使馆。
But the concrete perimeter withstood the explosions and Yemeni soldiers engaged the attackers, with casualties on both sides.
不过，水泥院墙承受住了爆炸的袭击，也门士兵还和袭击者交战，双方都有人死亡。
Reports from the scene said at least 16 people were killed in the incident, including several attackers, Yemeni troops and civilian passers-by.
The State Department offered no casualty figures, but said the dead included one Yemeni security guard who worked for the embassy.
State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to express regret for the loss of life among the security personnel and civilians, and appreciation for current and future anti-terrorism cooperation with Yemen.
美国国务院发言人麦科马克说，赖斯国务卿和也门总统萨利赫通了电话，对安全人员和平民的死亡表示遗憾，并对也门目前和今后的反恐合作表示感谢。
President Bush, at a White House meeting with former U.S. Iraq Commander General David Petraeus, said the attack is a reminder that the United States remains at war with extremists who will kill innocents to achieve their objectives:
布什总统在白宫和前驻伊美军指挥官彼得雷乌斯将军开会时说，这次袭击提醒人们，美国依然在和极端分子交战，极端分子通过杀害无辜的人来达到他们的目的。
"One objective of these extremists is to kill, to try to cause the United States to lose our nerve, and to withdraw from regions of the world," President Bush said. "And our message is that we want to help governments survive the extremists. We want people to live normal lives. We want mothers to be able to raise their sons and daughters in a peaceful environment so they can realize the hopes and dreams of a better world."
布什说：“这些极端分子的一个目标就是杀人，他们企图让美国失去勇气，从世界各地撤退。而我们要说的是，我们要帮助各国政府战胜极端分子。我们想让人们过正常的生活。我们想让母亲们能够在和平的环境下养育自己的子女，这样他们就能实现自己对更美好世界的希望和梦想。”
Yemen has long been a focus of U.S. security concern. The Navy ship USS Cole was bombed in 2000 by al-Qaida members in a speedboat in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 U.S. sailors.
也门长期以来一直是美国在安全方面关注的焦点。2000年，乘坐快艇的基地组织成员在也门港口亚丁炸了美国海军的“科尔”号驱逐舰，造成17名美国水手死亡。
Non-essential U.S. embassy personnel and dependents were evacuated from Yemen after a mortar attack on diplomatic housing in April, and were allowed to return only last month.
今年4月，美国外交人员的住所受到迫击炮袭击，此后，美国国务院下令非必要工作人员和外交人员家属撤离，直到上个月才允许他们返回也门。
State Department Spokesman McCormack said the Yemeni government has made strides in boosting security, but could do more.
美国国务院发言人麦科马克说，也门政府已经在加强安全方面取得了重大进步，但依然可以做更多工作。
While a group calling itself Islamic Jihad in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the attack, McCormack said the United States has suspicions that al-Qaida or a local affiliate may be to blame.
一个自称为“也门伊斯兰圣战组织”的团体宣称对袭击负责，不过麦科马克说，美国怀疑这次袭击是基地组织，或在当地的一个附属组织策划的。
"I think it is safe to say, after talking to the security personnel, that the attack bears all the hallmarks of an al-Qaida attack - where you have multiple vehicle-borne devices, along with personnel on foot, seemingly in an attempt to try to breach the perimeter and actually get inside, get inside the perimeter and try inflict further damage and loss of life," he said.
他说：“在和安全官员谈过之后，我可以确定地说，这起袭击具有基地组织袭击的一切特征，比如使用多辆装有炸弹的汽车，同时伴有行走的袭击者。他们似乎企图炸开院墙进入院子，造成更大的损坏和杀死更多的人。”
McCormack said all American staffers are safe and accounted for at the embassy, which has closed temporarily.
麦科马克说，所有的美国使馆工作人员都平安无事，并且在使馆内。使馆已经暂时关闭。
He said an interagency team of U.S. experts has been sent to Yemen to join in an investigation of the attack, and that it is premature to discuss a possible new security steps.
他说，由几个美国政府机构组成的专家小组已经前往也门，参加对袭击的调查，现在就讨论今后可能采取什么新的安全措施还为时尚早。 |