United Nations: Offering his "deepest sympathy" and "profound condolences" to family of Indian border force security officer Satish Chandra Menon who was killed in a sniper attack in Stalina village in Kosovo, UN Ambassador V K Nambiar has said his sacrifice in the cause of peace will not be forgotten.

"While he paid the ultimate price for his devotion to duty, he shall continue to live in our minds and hearts and serve as beacon to other peacekeepers be they Indian or of other nationality," he said in a letter to Menon's wife, Leela Menon.

Menon, who had gone to Kosovo only a few weeks ago to join the United Nations peacekeeping mission, was killed on August 3 night when unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle he was travelling in and fired seven rounds from a hilltop.

A British officer driving the vehicle escaped unhurt. He was first police officer to be killed in four years since the mission was established.

"Menon was one of the finest officers serving in the United Nations interim administration in Kosovo," Nambiar said, paying tributes to the slain officer.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on August 5 condoled Menon's death, saying the guilty must be brought to justice for this "appalling act."

The world body on August 5 described as "premeditated" Menon's killing in Kosovo, adding the nature of the attack came out clearly by the fact that boulders were put on the road when the UN car carrying the 45-year-old Menon, Deputy Commandant of the Indian peace keeping force was travelling towards Mitrovica and firing began from a hilltop as soon as the vehicle halted.

PTI