Persons accused of attacking USS Cole escape jail

Yemeni officials said that 10 detainees suspected to be involved in attacking the American warship USS Cole more than two years ago fled from a prison in the city of Aden in southern Yemen Yesterday.

The officials said that among the 10 fleeing persons are two suspected to be the main convicts in arranging the attack which took place in October, 2000. They are Jamal Badawi and Fahd al-Qafe'. Some 17 American marines were killed in the attack when a small boat loaded with explosives hit the warship when it anchored the port of Aden for fuel.

The US authorities held al-Qaida organization responsible for the attack. Al-Badwa and al-Qafe' were taken together with other suspects three months ago from a prison in Sanaa to Aden where scores are held suspected to be al-Qaida members.

The officials said they did not know yet the way by which the suspects fled al-Mansoura prison in Aden at dawn, noting that the pictures of the fleeing prisoners were circulated to police check points in all parts of the coastal city which overlooks the Arab sea.

Yemen said it had held 85 persons suspected to be linked to al-Qaida organization and the Islamic Jihad Movement. Some 17 of those are suspected to be involved in the attack against USS Cole.