*EPF506 10/27/00
Text: Albright, Freeh on Cole Investigation
(Say investigation moving into critical phase) (360)

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Louis Freeh said the investigation into the bomb attack on the U.S.S. Cole is moving into its most critical aspects.

Full cooperation from Yemeni authorities will be crucial to U.S. investigators as they move into the collection of information and interviewing of witnesses process, Albright and Freeh said in a statement issued in Washington October 27.

Albright and Freeh said forensic evidence teams, laboratory examiners, bomb technicians and other investigative personnel have concluded their work and are returning to the United States.

Following is the text of the statement by Freeh and Albright:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman

October 27, 2000

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND FBI DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH

Investigation of the USS Cole Bombing

Yemeni and U.S. investigators have now completed several phases of the initial investigation into the attack on the USS Cole. The initial phases include a forensic examination of the ship, as well as analysis of various locations in Yemen.

The U.S. Government would like to express its appreciation to the Government of Yemen for its early cooperation given to the investigators working jointly on the forensic examinations at various locations in Yemen.

The investigation is now moving to the next phase as the forensic evidence teams, laboratory examiners, bomb technicians, and other investigative personnel have concluded their work. These personnel will start rotating out of Yemen and returning to the United States.

The next critical phase will require Yemeni and U.S. personnel to work as partners in the collection of information and participants in the interview process of witnesses to this criminal act of terrorism. We count on President Saleh's commitment of full cooperation as we move to the most critical aspects of this investigation and seek to solve this act of terrorism which took the lives of seventeen U.S. sailors and wounded numerous other Navy personnel.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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