2006年VOA标准英语-Iraqi PM Optimistic About Prospects for Ne

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
09 May 2006

 
Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki talks to reporters during a news conference in Baghdad, Tuesday, May 9, 2006   
  
Iraq's Prime Minister-designate, Nouri al-Maliki, says he expects to present a new government to parliament in the coming days.  The latest political negotiations¹ come against a backdrop of new violence, with at least 17 people killed Tuesday in a car bomb explosion in the northwestern city of Tal Afar.

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Mr. Al-Maliki said Tuesday that the major hurdles² to forming a new government have been overcome, and he expects the new Cabinet would be finalized³ this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.

He says political leaders from the country's main Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab blocs⁴ have completed nominations⁵ for the main posts, and that just a few ministries⁶ remain to be decided⁷.  He did not name any candidates, saying he would announce the entire Cabinet together.

However, it appears no agreement has been reached yet on who would head two of the most important ministries, oil and defense⁸. Both ministries are crucial to bringing stability and economic recovery to Iraq.

Under a constitutional deadline, Mr. al-Maliki has until May 22 to present a Cabinet to parliament.

Meanwhile, the violence continues.  Police in the northern town of Tal Afar say a suicide bomber⁹ detonated his explosives-filled vehicle at a market Tuesday evening killing¹⁰ and wounding dozens of people.

In Baghdad, and in several other central Iraqi towns, police found the bodies of at least a dozen Iraqis, including a 10-year-old boy and three decapitated Iraqi soldiers.  U.S. military officials announced the death of an American soldier who they say was killed Monday in Baghdad.

In other developments, Ramsey Clark, the former U.S. Attorney General who is one of Saddam Hussein's defense attorneys, told reporters in Washington that the make up of the Iraqi Special Tribunal guarantees that Saddam and his co-defendants¹¹ cannot get a fair trial. 

 
Ramsey Clark speaks at Saddam Hussein's trial (file photo) 
  
"All the judges are Kurds, or if they are Arabs they are Shia," he noted¹².  "The defendants, with an exception or two, are all Sunni.  It is a sectarian persecution¹³ if you will."

Clark says the trial has contributed to sectarian violence, and that executing Saddam and other former Sunni Arab leaders would only lead to more sectarian troubles.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

3 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句

5 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

6 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 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。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。