Seven Nigerian peacekeepers were killed Friday in an ambush in southwestern Ivory Coast, and more may be in danger, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

"These brave soldiers have died in the service of peace," he said. "I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms."

The blue-helmeted peacekeepers were part of the U.N. Operation in Cote d'Ivoire on patrol in the town of Tai, near the border with Liberia, where threats of attacks against civilians have prompted the operation to strengthen its presence, the United Nations said in a statement.

Ban called on the government of Ivory Coast "to do its utmost to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable."

He added that he understood that other peacekeepers remained in danger.

"Even tonight, after the attack, more than 40 peacekeepers remain with the villagers in this remote region to protect them from this armed group," he said.

doctokwus: Moderator dat doesn't check facts b4 posting,just to make frontpage.Besides ur untoward obsession wt postin anything,many irrelevant on d frontpage,u are now adding blunders.In an ideal setting,u wud @least av gone on suspension 4 dis gaffe.
Do correct ursef,d killed p/keepers were frm NIGER,not NIGERia.Rubbish