DATE=10-13-2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267919

TITLE=COLE INVESTIGATION (L)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDITORS WATCH CASUALTIES IN LEAD AND POSSIBLE REVISION IN SECOND GRAPH OF TEXT ///

INTRO: American authorities are enroute to Yemen to investigate Thursday's apparent terrorist bombing of the U-S Navy Destroyer "Cole" that killed 17 American sailors. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports so far, no group has made a credible claim of responsibility.

TEXT: The bodies of those killed in Thursday's attack are on their way back to the United States, just as investigators from the F-B-I and other U-S government agencies begin trying to track down who was responsible.

If confirmed as a terrorist attack, Thursday's explosion would be the worst on American military personnel since 19 servicemen were killed in a truck bombing in Saudi Arabia four years ago.

U-S officials say they have heard of at least one claim of responsibility. But State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters Friday at this point, not enough is known about the apparent attack to make an assessment.

/// BOUCHER ACT ///

There's nothing we can say at this point about responsibility. We're at an early stage in the investigation.

/// END ACT ///

But questions were put to him about why a U-S warship would refuel in a country known to the U-S government as a safe haven for terrorist groups.

/// BOUCHER ACT ///

Ships have to refuel and everywhere in the Middle East there's a potential threat of terrorism. There may be more in some places than in others. We might have different arrangements in some places than others. But ultimately these decisions and judgements have to be made based on the need to refuel, the opportunities available and where we think the best place to do it.

/// END ACT ///

What had been South Yemen was dropped from the U-S government's list of terrorist nations a decade ago when it merged with North Yemen. But in its most recent terrorism report, the State Department says Yemen remains a base for members or sympathizers of terrorist groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad -- two organizations that oppose the Middle East peace process and U-S involvement in it. (SIGNED)

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