The United Nations says a land mine explosion has killed four peacekeepers in the disputed Sudanese region of Abyei.

A U.N. spokesperson says the blast went off Tuesday while the peacekeepers were on patrol in Mabok southeast of Abyei town. It says seven other peacekeeping troops were injured.

The spokesperson says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon extends his condolences to the families of those killed, as well as to the Ethiopian government.

Ethiopia provided the troops for the Abyei peacekeeping force.

Abyei sits on the border between Sudan and the new nation of South Sudan. The two countries have been unable to decide which should control the oil-rich region.

Sudanese troops occupied Abyei on May 21, about seven weeks before South Sudan declared independence.

Both sides have agreed to withdraw their forces under a deal that led to the creation of the U.N. peacekeeping force.