Pact with Yemen permits U.S. presence at USS Cole interviews

From CNN State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After weeks of negotiation, the Clinton administration on Wednesday authorized its envoy in Yemen to sign an agreement to allow U.S. presence at all future interviews in the investigation of the USS Cole bombing.

Yemen, conducting the investigation into the blast that killed 17 U.S. sailors, had barred U.S. investigators from interviews with suspects and witnesses. But according to the new agreement, a senior U.S. administration official told CNN, the U.S. investigators may attend and submit questions that the Yemenis will then ask the interviewees.

"This removes a significant hurdle in allowing the FBI to proceed with its investigation," said the official, who has intimate knowledge of the ongoing query.

GALLERY Images of Cole being loaded onto transport ship Photographs give closeup view of Cole damage     INTERACTIVE Timeline: The attack on the USS Cole     MESSAGE BOARD USS Cole attack

Two suicide bombers pulled alongside the destroyer on October 12 in a small boat laden with explosives. The subsequent explosion wounded 39 sailors in addition to the 17 killed.

The administration official added that the United States is "extremely pleased" with the agreement and that final instructions were sent to U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Barbara Bodine "to sign it."

The United States "looks forward to its rapid implementation," the official said.

Yemeni officials had arrested at least six people in connection with the investigation as of November 26, and were expected to detain more suspects. Trials are not likely to begin until January, after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan has passed.

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon said on Tuesday that the crippled USS Cole would arrive, from Yemen, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, during the second week of December.

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