Washington, April. 19 (AP): The sister of the gunman responsible for the deadliest shooting rampage in modern US history works as a contractor for a State Department office that oversees billions of dollars in American aid for Iraq.

Sun-Kyung Cho is employed by the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office, according to US officials and a State Department staff directory that says she works from an annex near the department's headquarters in Washington.

Messages left on her office voicemail, in which she identifies herself as "Sun Cho" were not immediately returned yesterday.

The Virginia Tech gunman was her brother, Cho Seung-Hui. Thirty-three people died in the rampage Monday, including the 23-year-old student, who committed suicide.

Spokesman Sean McCormack would not discuss Sun Cho's status but told reporters, "This person is not a direct-hire employee of the State Department". He refused further comment, citing privacy concerns. Other US officials confirmed she works for a contractor.

The office was set up by President George W Bush to coordinate the reconstruction programme in Iraq and offers jobs to "highly skilled and motivated United States citizens" to work at the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, according to State Department documents.

The office also has several Washington-based positions.

"Our mission is to support the sovereign, democratic rights of the Iraqi people to govern themselves, defend their country and rebuild their economy," the office says in its recruiting brochure.