Three US contractors for Houston-based Halliburton Co. who vanished in Iraq earlier this month were confirmed dead Tuesday, the company said.  

"We grieve today for the tragic and sudden loss of our co-workers. Halliburton extends its sincere condolences to the families of these employees," Halliburton said in a statement.

Halliburton identified the contractors as Stephen Hulett, 48, of Manistee, Michigan; Jack Montague, 52, of Pittsburg, Illinois; and Jeffery Parker, 45, of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The three were among the four bodies found in a shallow grave a few days after a fuel convoy was ambushed outside Baghdad on April 9. Seven Halliburton workers went missing after the attack. The fourth body has not been identified.

Two US soldiers also were unaccounted-for after the convoy attack. Private Keith M. Maupin, one of the missing soldiers, has been seen on video footage disseminated by his captors.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)