VOA标准英语2009年-British Hostage Released in Iraq

Photo: AP
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaks during a press conference in London, 30 Dec 2009, where he announced the release of hostage Peter Moore

 
A British hostage has been released alive and well in Iraq after more than two years in captivity¹.  The news was announced by Britain's foreign minister in London.

Thirty-six year old Peter Moore was released by his captors in Baghdad Wednesday morning. He was turned over to the Iraqi authorities and then handed over to the British embassy in the Iraqi capital.

In London, British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband welcomed the release and said he had spoken with Moore.

"Peter is in good health despite many months of captivity, he's undergoing full medical checks and he is going to be reunited with his family as soon as possible back in the U.K.," he said.

Peter Moore, a computer consultant², was working in Baghdad when he and four bodyguards³ were seized at the finance ministry⁴ in May 2007 by some 40 gunmen disguised as Iraqi police.

Three of the bodyguards were killed and their bodies returned to British authorities earlier this year.  The fate of the fourth, Alan McMenemy, is as yet unconfirmed, but British authorities believe he too was killed.

"We have believed for some time that he has been killed. … I call today again in the strongest terms for the hostage takers to return Alan's body as soon as possible," he said.

Miliband thanked the Iraqi authorities for their efforts in Moore's release and praised the government's process of national reconciliation⁵ with armed groups prepared to renounce⁶ violence.

"That process of reconciliation has made possible Peter Moore's release today. I hope it will lead also to the end of the scourge⁷ of hostage taking and violence in that country," he said.

Numerous foreigners, including Britons and Americans, have been kidnapped in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. Some were released, but many killed.  Many Iraqis have also been kidnapped, mostly for ransom⁸, amid the chaos⁹ and lawlessness that swept the country in the aftermath of the invasion.
 

1 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

2 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

3 bodyguards   

n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

6 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

7 scourge   

n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏

参考例句：

• Smallpox was once the scourge of the world.天花曾是世界的大患。
• The new boss was the scourge of the inefficient.新老板来了以后，不称职的人就遭殃了。

8 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

9 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。