No serviceman was killed in the quake rescue operations, and the rumor that two paratroopers died in airdrops was completely "fabricated" and "ungrounded", a senior military official said on Sunday.

Ma Jian, deputy director of the Combat Department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters, made the remarks at a press conference involving military officers.

He said altogether seven soldiers died in the earthquake, adding they were buried when the massive quake happened.

No serviceman was killed during the rescue operations for the quake-hit areas, Ma said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)