2 Australian contractors killed in Iraq

Two Australian contractors were killed and another wounded in Iraq when the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive device, the department of foreign affairs said Sunday. A 38-year-old man and a 34-year-old man, both from Queensland state, were killed in the attack, which occurred about 8 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, the department said. Another 38-year-old man, also from Queensland, was wounded in the attack. The three men, whose identities were not immediately released, had been working for BLP International, a private company based in the United Arab Emirates which provides private security services.