LONDON, Oct. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The British government is facing the threat of being sued by Canada over a submarine crippled by fire in the North Atlantic.

    Visiting Canadian Defense Minister Bill Graham said Monday thatCanada could not rule out taking legal action against the British Ministry of Defense.

    HMCS Chicoutimi, a diesel-powered vessel sold to Canada by Britain in 1998, suffered an electrical fire off the northwestern Irish coast last Tuesday when it was returning to Canada after repairs in Britain.

    Nine of the 54 crewmen were injured and one subsequently died in hospital.

    Graham told reporters after a visit to the stricken vessel thathis government would wait for the results of an inquiry into the fire before deciding whether to file a lawsuit.

    Graham, who is expected to hold talks with British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon later Monday, said Canada is "a great ally ofthe UK."

    "My first duty with respect to Secretary Hoon is to thank him on behalf of the Canadian Navy for the support that the British Navy gave in these very difficult circumstances," he said.

    "There is a board of inquiry. That will tell us what future action we should take. Anything else would be pure speculation," Graham added.

    The submarine, one of four secondhand vessels Canada bought from Britain in 1998, had been in Britain to undergo extensive repairs before it left Scotland last week to return to Canada. Enditem