VOA常速英语2007-Afghanistan Suicide Bomb Adds to Rising Death To

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
02 October 2007

A suicide bomber¹ has killed at least 11 people in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, after targeting a police bus. Rising violence in Afghanistan, now at the highest level since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, has prompted the offer of new rewards for the capture of Taleban commanders. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

The suicide bomber killed at least six police and five civilians², including three school children, after trying to board a police bus on Tuesday.

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry³ spokesman, Zemarai Bashari, said seven other people were injured in the blast. He said one policeman on the bus shot the bomber as he tried to get on board, but he was still able to detonate his explosives.

"The police that was sitting in the front seat did a very brave job and he was really a hero," said Bashari. "He stopped the bomber and warned him to stop. But, after not obeying the orders, he opened fire on the bomber and after getting injured the bomber blew himself up."

The attack was the second suicide bombing in Kabul since Saturday when a similar bomber targeted an Afghan Army bus, killing⁴ 30 people and injuring many.

A purported⁵ Taleban spokesman has claimed responsibility for both bombings.

Afghanistan has suffered a big jump in suicide bombings in recent years, from only a few in 2004 to more than 100 so far this year.

A United Nations report last month said most Afghan suicide bombers⁶ were trained or supported in neighboring Pakistan's tribal⁷ regions where Taleban militants⁹ are believed to have bases and are strongly supported by locals.

The report said many suicide bombers are recruited from Pakistani religious schools and are often coerced¹⁰ into sacrificing themselves.

Violence in Afghanistan has increased dramatically since the U.S.-led invasion drove the Taleban from government and into hiding. Several thousand people have been killed in the last year alone.

The U.S. military has issued new rewards, of up to $200,000 each, for information leading to the capture of twelve mid-level Taleban commanders.

The Afghan president has also offered to hold peace talks with the Taleban. The militant⁸ Islamic group refuses to enter into any talks as long as foreign troops remain in Afghanistan.

1 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。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 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。

4 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。

5 purported   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点
• The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

8 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。

9 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。

10 coerced   

v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• He was coerced into making a confession. 他被迫招供。 来自《简明英汉词典》