The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned "in the strongest terms" a deadly attack that killed three peacekeepers of the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur.

In a press statement, the 15-nation body called on the Sudanese government to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for the mission, known as UNAMID, and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate fully with it, the statement said.

The "blue helmets" were attacked earlier in the day as they were guarding a water borehole near Korma in North Darfur. Two Ethiopian peacekeepers were killed instantly while a third died of wounds later.

The council members expressed their condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed in the attack, as well as to the government of Ethiopia and to UNAMID.

The mission was established by the UN Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians and help ensure humanitarian assistance in Darfur, where fighting between rebel groups and government forces and allied militia has led to the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people and displaced nearly 2 million over the past 10 years.

The world body has repeatedly called on all sides to join negotiations aimed at achieving a permanent cease-fire and comprehensive peace for the people of Darfur.