Journalist Frederic Nerac went missing in Iraq in March 2003 shortly after the U.S.-led invasion.

A Foreign Ministry statement issued Thursday said Nerac died during a gun battle between Iraqi and U.S. soldiers, which took place when he was aboard an Iraqi vehicle.

France-led international opposition against the U.S.-led war, and contributed no troops to it.

French Foreign Ministry officials launched an inquiry into Nerac's fate eight months ago. They have yet to find his body.