Iran kills four leaders of Sunni rebel group

TV 20 Dec 2007 10:59:54 GMT
Source: Reuters


TEHRAN, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Iranian security forces killed four leaders of a Sunni Muslim rebel group that Tehran has previously linked to al Qaeda and blamed for several attacks in the Islamic state, state television reported on Thursday.

The four members of Jundollah (God's Soldiers) were involved in the murder of 12 Iranians in a roadside attack last year in the southeast Sistan-Baluchistan province, near Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to state television.

"Police and security forces jointly ... killed four Jundollah ringleaders who played main roles in the group's terrorist attacks," state television reported, citing a statement issued by the Intelligence Ministry.

The shadowy group, led by Abdolmalek Rigi, in February claimed responsibility for an attack on Iran's Revolutionary Guards that killed 11 people. In March 2006, the group said it was behind an attack that killed 22 people.

Iran has previously said Rigi, who was not among the leaders killed in the government raid, was a cell leader of Osama bin Laden's Sunni Muslim al Qaeda network in the overwhelmingly Shi'ite Muslim Iran.

The southeast of Iran is a major smuggling route for drugs and other contraband. More than 3,300 Iranian security personnel have died in the region fighting drug traffickers since Iran's 1979 revolution.

Tourists visiting the region have been advised not to travel at night in the area. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Michael Kahn)