03-05-08

中國劫持者劫澳大利亞人質中槍亡命 (Chinese Hijacker Shot and Killed After Taking Australians Hostage)

中國警方開槍打死一名在中國西北地區劫持一組澳大利亞遊客為人質的客車劫持者。澳大利亞和中國的新聞媒體報導說，劫持男子攜帶有爆炸物，劫持了10名澳大利亞遊客和他們的翻譯為人質。後來9名人質獲得釋放。

中國官方的新華社說，警方在談判失敗後開槍打死了人質劫持者，使一名48歲的澳大利亞婦女獲釋。

新華社說，這場對峙持續了大約兩個小時，發生在陜西省西安市的市中心。西安是中國一個熱門旅遊景點，附近有舉世聞名的守護中國歷史上第一位皇帝的陵寢的數以千計真人大小兵馬俑的遺址。

Chinese police have shot and killed a bus hijacker in northwest China after he took a group of Australian tourists hostage. Media reports from Australia and China say the man was armed with explosives and took 10 Australian tourists and their interpreter hostage. Nine were later released.

China's official Xinhua news agency says police shot and killed the hostage-taker after negotiations failed, securing the release of a 48-year old Australian woman.

Xinhua says the standoff lasted about two hours and took place in the center of Xian city in China's Shaanxi province. Xian is a popular tourist stop in China and near the site of the famed terracotta army where thousands of life-sized figures of warriors and horses are preserved in a tomb with China's first emperor.

大火燒死中國南部八名殘障兒童 (Fire Kills 8 Disabled Children in Southern China)

中國官方媒體報導說，廣東省惠州市一家殘障兒童福利院發生火災，造成至少8名兒童喪生。官方新華社說，在蚊香引發被罩失火以後，這些兒童被煙熏致死。事故發生在夜間。

報導說，在濃煙充斥屋子的時候，這些孩子顯然正在熟睡。福利院工作人員星期三早晨發現這些孩子。8名死亡兒童年齡4到8歲，有身障或智障，或是盲人。

Chinese state media say a fire at a home for the disabled has killed at least eight children in Huizhou City, Guangdong province. The official Xinhua news agency says the children died of smoke inhalation after a mosquito-repellent incense coil set fire to

bed covers. The accident happened overnight.

The report says the children were apparently asleep when smoke filled their room. The institution's staff found them early Wednesday. The eight children were aged four to eight and were either blind, physically or mentally disabled.