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

"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 April9. 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.

Source: Xinhua