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WASHINGTON, June 1, 2001 – American officials in Yemen investigating the bombing of the destroyer USS Cole have moved their operation from the port of Aden to the capital, Sana'a.
A State Department spokesman said the move had been considered "for some weeks now" and was not in response to increased security concerns in the Middle East. Investigators have been working out of a hotel in Aden since the October 2000 bombing of the Cole in the city harbor. "In Sana'a, they can work with our embassy, and we think they can continue their work there with Yemeni officials," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a May 31 press briefing. "So that is what we have decided to do now. We are doing this in consultation with our Yemeni partners, and we think this step can help improve our cooperation with them." DoD spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said the people involved included State Department officials, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and members of a Marine security team. A U.S. Air Force C-130 transport flew the team May 31 from Aden to the capital.
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