VOA慢速英语2014 70多人在密苏里抗议中被捕

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More Than 70 Arrests in Missouri Protests 70多人在密苏里抗议中被捕

Police arrested more than 70 protestors and reporters Monday night and early Tuesday in the central U.S. town of Ferguson, Missouri. The demonstrators were protesting the shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer on August 9.

A police official said protesters attacked police early Tuesday. He said police did not fire their guns.  He said two people were wounded by shots fired from within the crowd of protesters.  Many in the crowds reportedly rejected police orders to leave the area.

The police official said most of the protesters were peaceful.  But he said a small minority turned violent.  He said officials will not let what he called "criminals" define the community of Ferguson.

The protests have been taking place almost nightly since the shooting. The Missouri National Guard is deployed¹ in Ferguson.  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder² is leading a civil rights investigation³ into the shooting.

The violence has captured headlines around the world. It has raised questions about race relations in the United States.

In Cairo, the Egyptian foreign ministry⁴ urged U.S. officials to exercise restraint in dealing⁵ with the protest. Last year, the U.S. sent a similarly worded message to Egypt when that country was dealing with protesters.

Iraqi Forces Fight Back

Iraq's military continues to fight Islamic State militants⁶ with support from U.S. air strikes.  Iraqi forces recaptured control of Mosul Dam Monday.

Early Tuesday, Iraqi forces opened an offensive north of Baghdad.  They are trying to recapture control of Tikrit, the hometown of Iraq’s former Sunni president Saddam Hussein.  Militants resisted the offensive with shelling and machine gun fire.

People in Tikrit reported by telephone that Islamic State fighters were firmly in control of their positions.

In a separate development, the Islamic State group claimed on Tuesday to have cut off the head of an American journalist who has been missing since 2012.  Militants linked the execution to the U.S. air strikes in the area.

Ebola Deaths Increase Again

The World Health Organization said the Ebola virus has killed another 84 people in West Africa. More than 1,200 people now have died in the outbreak.

The U.N. health agency on Tuesday announced that the number of confirmed and probable infections has risen to 2,240.  

US May Drop Ban on Arms Sales to Vietnam

General Martin Dempsey, the top U.S. military official, said the U.S. may soon end its ban on the sale of deadly weapons to Vietnam.

General Dempsey spoke⁷ at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City.  He said, “there’s a growing sense among our elected officials by our administration, by non-governmental organizations, that Vietnam has made progress against the limitations that led to the lethal⁸ weapon ban.”