The United States confirmed on Thursday that an American hostage, held by militants in Iraq and once feared was beheaded, was now in the US embassy in Beirut.

"Corporal (Wassef Ali) Hassoun is at the US embassy in Beirut. We were able to get him this morning or this afternoon in Beirut time. He is now at the US embassy," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing on Thursday.

"He made contact with us and arranged a place to meet, and we went to pick him up and brought him back to the embassy," Boucher said.

Boucher refused to disclose the status or circumstances of the US marine who has been missing since June 21.

Hassoun's death was initially announced on July 3. However, theal Qaeda linked Ansar al-Sunna group on June 4 denied a statement issued in its name that it had carried out its threat to decapitate Lebanese-born Hassoun, who was later found in Lebanon.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2004)