U.S. Navy, French officials to investigate tanker fire

AL MUKALLA, Yemen -- U.S. Navy officers and French agents were being sent here to investigate whether a terrorist attack caused the explosion and fire that raged for hours aboard a French oil tanker, officials said Monday.

Officials had suggested that a small boat laden with explosives may have struck the tanker and caused the blast in an attack similar to that on the USS Cole two years ago in the Yemeni port of Aden. The attack on the Cole killed 17 U.S. sailors and was blamed on the al-Qaida terrorist network.

The Yemeni government said the blaze was an accident caused by an oil leak, but the ship's owner disagreed, saying it was a "deliberate act." French officials said it was still too early to rule out terrorism.