WASHINGTON. Nov 10: US Defence Secretary William Cohen will visit nine Gulf and Middle East states Ix’glnning next week, his first trip to the area since the suspected suicide bombing of a US warship In Yemen, the Pentagon said on Thursday, reports Reuters.

Cohen Is scheduled to depart on Tuesday on the 10-day trip Io Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates. Jordan. Egypt and Israel, the Defence Department said.

No details of the trip were provided immediately, but there was no indication that Cohen would go to Yemen. The brief announcement said he would consult with defence counterparts and other senior government officials in the nine coun tries and would visit US troops In Hie area.

US forces In the Gulf have been on high alert since a small boat laden with explosives blew up next to the American guided missile destroyer USS Cole in Aden harbour on Oct 12. ripping a large hole In the vessel and killing 17 sailors.

No charges have been filed in connection with the blast, which Is being Investigated by Yemeni and US officials. Cohen said on Wednesday that investigators were looking at anti-Western guerilla groups. Including exiled Saudi dissident Osama bln Laden, but that no blame had yet been established for the blast.

Reports from Aden have said Yemeni authorities have arrested a number of persons for questioning. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has been negotiating with Yemen for a closer role in questioning of those arrested, according to US officials.