http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=222502

[Recall that U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen still adamantly refuses to allow Russia to inspect the U.S. submarine Missouri or to in any other way cooperate with the ongoing Russian investigation into the sinking of the Kursk.]

Foreign Submarine Sent SOS Near Kursk

MOSCOW, Nov 21, 2000 -- (Reuters) Russia recorded SOS signals from a foreign submarine when its own nuclear submarine, the Kursk, was sinking with 118 sailors on board in August, a top navy commander said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.

The cause of the accident with the Kursk in the Barents Sea remains unclear but Russian officials have said a collision was a possibility. The United States and Britain have denied their submarines were involved.

Northern Fleet commander Vyacheslav Popov told the newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta there was growing evidence the Kursk sank after a collision with a foreign vessel.

"The 'Polinom' hydro-acoustic system located SOS signals sent by a mechanical transmitter," Popov said, referring to Russian naval surveillance equipment.

"Further spectral analysis made by the Northern Fleet laboratory showed that the signal belonged to a foreign submarine in the area," he said. Popov did not specifically say the foreign submarine had hit the Kursk and gave no further details.