Ukraine's top prosecutor says authorities have detained two police officers who were ordered to abduct and kill investigative journalist Georgy Gongadze.

Prosecutor General Svyatoslav Piskun said Wednesday that authorities are searching for another suspect who is a former member of the Interior Ministry.

Mr. Piskun told reporters that preliminary tests indicate the journalist died of strangulation.

Mr. Gongadze, a frequent critic of then president, Leonid Kuchma, disappeared in September 2000. His headless body was found outside Kiev several weeks later.

Opponents of Mr. Kuchma, as well as his former bodyguard, have accused the former president of being involved in the killing, a charge he has denied.

President Viktor Yushchenko has vowed to solve the case.