Two helicopters on the way to search three Russian tourists who remained missing in northwest China's Xinjiang were forced to return to base due to bad weather on Sunday.

The helicopter took off at 4 p.m. flying to the site where the third body of six Russian canoeists who had been missing since Sept. 2 was found on Sunday. However, it had to return 23 minutes later in the wake of a sandstorm.

The third body was found at 11:01 AM on the bank of the upper reaches of the Yurungkax river.

The body was described as "wearing sun-glasses and helmet, carrying a bag and bare-footed". No food and drinking water were found near the body.

A Russian rescuer and two Chinese, including Zhang Shaoyun, deputy chief of the local rescue headquarters, carried the body to the helicopter and sent it to the Hotan City an hour later.

Rescuers pulled out two bodies on Saturday from under two canoes.

Forensic doctors are trying to make out the cause of their death and the three dead are yet to be identified.

The six Russian tourists failed to meet their Chinese interpreter in Hotan in southern Xinjiang as planned on Sept. 2 after they began a canoeing trip on the Yurungkax River in mid-August.

China has mobilized about 1,700 soldiers, policemen and local herdsmen to search for the missing tourist.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2007)