UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Saturday condemned the killing of seven Tanzanian peacekeepers in South Darfur, Sudan, calling the attack "heinous."

Ban "was outraged to learn" of the attack in which unidentified attackers ambushed a convoy of troops and police of the African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, his spokesperson said in a statement. "The Secretary-General condemns this heinous attack on UNAMID, the third in three weeks, and expects that the Government of Sudan will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice," said his spokesperson.

"Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 others are injured. Among the injured are four UNAMID police officers, including two female officers, and 13 troops," the spokesman added.

Since the deployment of the UNAMID in early 2008, the mission has lost more than 40 of its personnel in attacks by unidentified gunmen in the region.

Currently, UNAMID has more than 19,550 military personnel and 6, 400 police there.