VOA标准英语2011-France Blames Al-Qaida for Killings of Fr

French Defense¹ Minister Alain Juppe traveled Monday to the West African nation of Niger for talks with authorities following the killing² of two French hostages. The incident underscores growing concern that France is a key target of Islamist extremists in Africa's Sahel region.

The French government says al-Qaida was probably behind the kidnapping and killing of two young French men in the Sahel. The pair were found dead Saturday near Niger's border with Mali following a failed rescue attempt by French and Nigerian forces.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called the incident a "barbaric and cowardly act."

After his arrival in Niger, France's defense minister warned French living there to be vigilant³.

In a TV interview Sunday, Juppe said the estimated 1,700 French expatriates in Niger should take precautions and French tourists should refrain from traveling to the West African country.

The killing of the two young men has shocked France. It is especially poignant⁴ since one of them, an aid worker, was about to be married. The other man was to have been his best man.

It is the latest in a series of killings⁵ and kidnappings targeting French citizens in the Sahel. The killing of four French tourists in Mauritania in late 2007 sparked the cancellation⁶ of the Paris-Dakar rally. This past July, a 78-year old French aid worker also was killed in Mauritania after being held hostage for several months. And in September, seven employees of French companies, including five French, were kidnapped in northern Niger.

Analysts⁷ believe al-Qaida's North African branch is behind the incidents.

Jean-Pierre Filiu, an expert on terrorist movements, told French television that in recent weeks the local al-Qaida branch announced it is willing to pay dearly for French hostages.

While French politicians have united in condemning⁸ the latest killings, some are questioning the government's foreign policy.

One French deputy, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, said France must invest more in defense and security in Africa and less in Afghanistan. For its part, the French foreign ministry said no area can be considered safe for French citizens in the Sahel, an area of northwestern Africa that covers seven countries, including Niger

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 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。

3 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

4 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

5 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

6 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》