2007年VOA标准英语-Siege Continues Around Islamabad's Red Mosque

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
07 July 2007

Pakistani security forces are intensifying¹ their operations outside the Red Mosque² in Islamabad where radical³ clerics are refusing to surrender to government forces. Pakistani media report president Pervez Musharraf Saturday warned the mosque's leaders to either free hundreds of women and children still inside or be killed. VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from the Pakistani capital.

Pakistani paramilitary troops walk towards another position at main conflict area of Lal or Red Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, 7 July 2007

Heavy fire and powerful explosions rocked the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, early Saturday morning.

Every few hours now the government troops fire on the mosque as authorities increase the pressure on the militant⁴ forces still inside.
 
More than a thousand people have surrendered since Tuesday when violent clashes erupted outside the mosque, leaving at least 19 people dead.

Officials say up to a thousand others remain inside, including hundreds of women and children.

State minister of Information Tariq Azim says around 50 to 60 hardcore and well-armed militants⁵ have taken over.

"It is now almost certainly a hostage situation," he said.  "We are told by a boy who came out this morning that there were 30-40 in a room and they are being guarded by armed guards and anyone trying to escape is shot at."

Azim says supplies inside the mosque are reported to be running low and the situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

Family members of those inside gathered near the mosque in an effort to obtain information about their trapped relatives.

At least one man was injured Friday after gunmen opened fire on a group of parents trying to free their children.

One of the Mosque's top clerics, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, says he and his supporters would rather die than surrender.

Azim says the government still hopes to avoid a potentially bloody⁶ raid into the mosque itself.

"Our strategy is to tire them out, not fire them out," he said.

Azim also rejected Ghazi's demand for safe passage out of Islamabad in exchange for an end to the standoff.

Ghazi and his supporters, who want to impose Taleban-style religious law in the capital, have repeatedly challenged the government's authority in recent months.

Students from the mosque's religious school led a series of raids into the city, at one point kidnapping several policemen and alleged⁷ prostitutes.

A religious student takes a drink during a clash outside the Lal mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, 04 July 2007

The mosque is increasingly seen as a major political embarrassment⁸ for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. 

Government critics accuse President Musharraf of failing to confront religious extremists despite his self-described platform of "enlightened moderation." 

President Musharraf escaped injury Friday after unknown gunmen targeted his plane as it took off from a military airbase outside the capital.

Security forces say they have recovered three weapons, including two anti-aircraft machine guns, from a residence in the area where they believe the gunfire came from.

1 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。