The embassy said in a statement there appeared to have been a mistake in identifying one of two Fijians killed in the attack north of Baghdad on April 21. A US forensic expert would be sent to Fiji to obtain DNA samples to make a positive identification.

Ieli Waisale Atalifo, 51, and Timoci Lalaqila, 34, were working as security guards in Iraq when their Bulgarian helicopter was shot down by a missile fired by insurgents. Six Americans and three Bulgarian crew were also killed in the attack.

According to the embassy statement, it appeared from information received from Kuwait that one set of remains identified as Fijian may belong to an American killed in the same attack.

The embassy said, "we know this mistake can only increase the anguish felt by the families and friends".

"The United States government is doing everything it can to identify the remains as quickly as possible," it added.

The remains of two men arrived in Fiji on Sunday night and were due to be buried this week.

Online news service Fijilive said family members were angered by the blunder.

Atalifo's wife Ledua said she only learned of the mix-up after hearing news of it broadcast on radio.

Meridian Services Ltd director Sakiusa Raivoce, who had recruited Atalifo in Fiji, only called her after the local media had begun reporting it.

"I'm really angry at the agency," she said, adding she still did not know if the mix-up involved her husband or Lalaqila.

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