VOA常速英语2007年-Britain Hands Over Security for Basra to Iraqi

By Deborah Block
Baghdad
16 December 2007

Britain has transferred security responsibilities for Iraq's Basra Province to Iraqi forces. This marks a major step in the withdrawal¹ of British forces from Iraq. Meanwhile, Al-Qaida's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, says the United States is failing in its efforts to subdue² militants³ in Iraq. VOA's Deborah Block reports from Baghdad.

Basra Governor Mohammed Mosbah al-Waeli and the commander of British forces in Basra, Major General Graham Binns, signed documents at a transfer ceremony to formally give Iraq control of the province. The oil-rich region has been plagued by militia⁴ infighting.

"Four and half years later, I have the privilege of handing the city and the province back to Iraqi control," General Binns said. "I came to rid Basra of its enemies and I now formally hand back Basra to its friends."

Iraq's national security adviser⁵, Mowafaq al-Rubaie said his government is ready and called for Basra's citizens to work together.

Basra is the last of four provinces to be transferred to Iraqi control by the British military. It is also the ninth of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed back to Iraqi forces by coalition⁶ troops - four-and-a-half years after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

General Binns said British soldiers would continue to help train Basra security forces, but that the Iraqis are responsible for safety in the province.

"From the outset our plan has been to build Basra's security forces, as you step up we step back," he said. "After four years and following the training of approximately 30,000 Iraqi army, navy, police and border forces - today officially marks the recognition that these brave Iraqis will control the security of the province."

Officials say British troops in Basra will be able to quickly help Iraqi forces if widespread violence erupts. Britain is reducing its 4,500 soldiers by half in the next few months.

The U.S. Deputy Commander in Iraq, Lt. General Ray Odierno said the handover was the right thing to do for southern Iraq. But he also expressed concern that a power vacuum could heighten the influence of Iran and threaten land routes used to bring ammunition⁷, food and other supplies from Kuwait to U.S. troops to the north.

1 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

2 subdue   

vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制

参考例句：

• She tried to subdue her anger.她尽力压制自己的怒火。
• He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.他强迫自己克制并战胜恐惧心理。

3 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。

4 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

5 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。