Assailants take 6 Iranians hostage in southeast; Sunni militants claim responsibility
By APSaturday, September 18, 2010
6 Iranians abducted in region shaken by militancy
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s official news agency says assailants have abducted six people in the southeast of the country, and Sunni militants waging an insurgency in the region have claimed responsibility.
The IRNA report says Revolutionary Guard forces rescued five of the hostages, but the sixth died in the operation. Saturday’s news report quotes local government security official Jalal Sayah as saying three of the assailants were also killed. No further details were reported.
The Sunni militant group Jundallah, or Soldiers of God, claimed responsibility and said those abducted were Revolutionary Guard forces.
The group’s bombings have killed dozens in recent years. It says it is fighting to press for rights for the Sunni ethnic Baluchi minority in predominantly Shiite Iran.
