UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday lashed out at an attack on a patrol of the African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the war-torn region of Sudan, which led to the death of one peacekeeper and injuries of two others.

The secretary-general, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, "condemns today's attack on a UNAMID patrol near Nyala in Southern Darfur which resulted in one peacekeeper being killed and two others sustaining injuries."

Ban "expects the government of Sudan will swiftly bring those responsible for this reprehensible act to justice," the statement said.

"The secretary-general extends his heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the government of Sierra Leone, the families of the three soldiers and their colleagues in Darfur," the statement said.

UNAMID is a joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission formally approved by UN Security Council Resolution 1769 on July 31, 2007,to bring stability to the Sudanese region of Darfur while peace talks on a final settlement continue.