His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF), and Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday took part in a ceremony to receive the bodies of three Jordanian officers who died in Haiti's devastating earthquake last Tuesday.

After the plane carrying the deceased landed at Queen Alia International Airport, army personnel acting as pallbearers for each of the three flag-draped coffins passed in front of the honour guard to the sound of a military band playing "Beating the Retreat".

His Royal Highness Prince Feisal, senior officers and officials and families of the fallen officers were present upon the arrival of the deceased: Major Ata Issa Hussein Manasir, Major Ashraf Ali Mohammad Jayousi and Corporal Raed Faraj Mefleh Khawaldeh.

The fallen soldiers were members of the Jordanian peacekeeping mission in Haiti, which was sent to the Caribbean nation in 2004. Another twenty-three Jordanian peacekeepers were injured in last Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, which is believed to have killed tens of thousands.

At the airport, Their Majesties also met with the officers' families of the officers to offered their condolences and sympathies over the loss.

King Abdullah voiced his pride in the officers, who he said performed their duties and represented their country honourably.

Families of the fallen officers present at the airport stressed their feelings of "pride and honour" for the service and sacrifice of their loved ones.

"Martyrdom is the most glorious fate. My son Ashraf died while serving in the name of Jordan and being on a humanitarian mission, and that is something honourable," Jayousi's father told reporters.

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers was held at a United Nations logistical base in Haiti yesterday, led by acting top UN Envoy Edmond Mulet.

The latest casualties bring to 28 the number of Jordanians who have died in UN peacekeeping missions around the world since 1989.