2007年VOA标准英语-Trial Resumes in Iraq for Saddam Co-Defendants

By Jim Randle
Irbil, Iraq
08 January 2007

The trial for men accused of carrying out Saddam Hussein's brutal¹ campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s has resumed in Baghdad. Prosecutors² are pressing ahead even though the chief defendant³, Saddam Hussein, has been executed for other crimes. VOA's Jim Randle reports from northern Iraq.

 
Hassan al-Majeed discusses prosecution⁴ evidence during the Operation Anfal trial in Baghdad, 8 Jan 2007
Prosecutors said Saddam Hussein ordered chemical weapons used on Kurds in the 1980s, and they played a tape in court that they said was the voice of Saddam discussing poison gas attacks with Hassan al-Majeed, the man known as Chemical Ali.

Al-Majeed was Saddam's cousin, and in an angry exchange with the judge he later said the trial was a politically-motivated injustice⁵.

The defendants⁶ were key members of Saddam's ruling Baath Party and are accused of running the Anfal campaign that used chemical weapons and other means to kill an estimated 180,000 Kurds.

The accused say the campaign was a legitimate⁷ military operation against Kurd guerillas who sided with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war.

As the trial resumed, the chief judge said the court has stopped all legal action against executed former president Saddam Hussein. At the end of the day, he adjourned⁸ the trial of the other defendants until January 11.

 
A bus destroyed in an ambush⁹ stands on the side of the road in Baghdad, Iraq, 08 Jan 2007
Meanwhile, sectarian violence continued in Iraq, including an attack on a bus carrying mostly Shi'ite Muslims to work at the airport. Many of the passengers were killed or wounded.

The continuing violence is the reason President Bush is expected to announce a revised strategy for Iraq later this week. It is likely to include sending more U.S. troops to Baghdad. The proposal is getting a variety of reactions in Iraq.

This Baghdad resident tells a journalist the new plan might bring some stability to the city, and perhaps work better than previous efforts.

1 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

2 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

3 defendant   

n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的

参考例句：

• The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.法官拒收被告家属的贿赂。
• The defendant was borne down by the weight of evidence.有力的证据使被告认输了。

4 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

5 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

6 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

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

8 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

9 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。