This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8313625.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iran accuses Pakistan over attack | Iran accuses Pakistan over attack |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Iran's president has accused Pakistani agents of involvement in a suicide bombing in south-east Iran targeting a group of elite Revolutionary Guards. | Iran's president has accused Pakistani agents of involvement in a suicide bombing in south-east Iran targeting a group of elite Revolutionary Guards. |
| President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers, whom Iranian officials suggested had arrived from Pakistan. | President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers, whom Iranian officials suggested had arrived from Pakistan. |
| At least 35 people died in the attack, in south-eastern Sistan-Baluchistan. | At least 35 people died in the attack, in south-eastern Sistan-Baluchistan. |
| A Pakistani spokesman condemned the attack, which has been blamed on the Sunni resistance group, Jundullah. | A Pakistani spokesman condemned the attack, which has been blamed on the Sunni resistance group, Jundullah. |
| The foreign office spokesman, Abdul Basit, also dismissed Iranian claims that Jundullah's leader was in Pakistan. | The foreign office spokesman, Abdul Basit, also dismissed Iranian claims that Jundullah's leader was in Pakistan. |
| 'Crushing' response | 'Crushing' response |
| According to state media, one or more suicide bombers targeted the group of Revolutionary Guard leaders who had arranged to meet tribal leaders in the Pishin district close to the Pakistani border. | According to state media, one or more suicide bombers targeted the group of Revolutionary Guard leaders who had arranged to meet tribal leaders in the Pishin district close to the Pakistani border. |
| ANALYSIS Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent Jundallah, or Army of God, has been involved in a long-running insurgency in Sistan-Baluchistan. Some experts believe they may have ties with the Taliban or al-Qaeda, operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. That is disputed, and another possibility is that Jundallah maintains more informal links with ethnic Baluchis in the neighbouring countries. Jundallah is also believed to have ties with drugs smugglers, who race across the border in heavily armed convoys, taking drugs on the lucrative smuggling route from Afghanistan through to Western Europe. Diplomats on official visits to see progress in Iran's war on the drugs trade are always heavily guarded. In May Iran hanged several members for a major attack on a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan. The brother of the group's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, was due to be executed, but remains in prison for further questioning. | ANALYSIS Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent Jundallah, or Army of God, has been involved in a long-running insurgency in Sistan-Baluchistan. Some experts believe they may have ties with the Taliban or al-Qaeda, operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. That is disputed, and another possibility is that Jundallah maintains more informal links with ethnic Baluchis in the neighbouring countries. Jundallah is also believed to have ties with drugs smugglers, who race across the border in heavily armed convoys, taking drugs on the lucrative smuggling route from Afghanistan through to Western Europe. Diplomats on official visits to see progress in Iran's war on the drugs trade are always heavily guarded. In May Iran hanged several members for a major attack on a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan. The brother of the group's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, was due to be executed, but remains in prison for further questioning. |
| Reports said a suicide bomber detonated a belt packed with explosives as the meeting was about to start. | Reports said a suicide bomber detonated a belt packed with explosives as the meeting was about to start. |
| The deputy commander of the Guards' ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards' chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among at least six officers reported to have been killed. | The deputy commander of the Guards' ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards' chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among at least six officers reported to have been killed. |
| Dozens of people were injured. | Dozens of people were injured. |
| A top Guards officer has also vowed to deliver a "crushing" response to those behind the attack, according to Agence-France Presse. | A top Guards officer has also vowed to deliver a "crushing" response to those behind the attack, according to Agence-France Presse. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad pointed towards Pakistan. | Mr Ahmadinejad pointed towards Pakistan. |
| "We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are co-operating with the main elements of this terrorist incident," he was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency. | "We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are co-operating with the main elements of this terrorist incident," he was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency. |
| "We regard it as our right to demand these criminals from them," he said, without elaborating. | "We regard it as our right to demand these criminals from them," he said, without elaborating. |
| "We ask the Pakistani government not to delay any longer in the apprehension of the main elements in this terrorist attack." | "We ask the Pakistani government not to delay any longer in the apprehension of the main elements in this terrorist attack." |
| Iran's Revolutionary Guard have been hit in the country's south-east before | |
| Iranian authorities summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Tehran, claiming that the assailants had arrived in Iran from Pakistan, Iranian state media reported. | Iranian authorities summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Tehran, claiming that the assailants had arrived in Iran from Pakistan, Iranian state media reported. |
| The Iranian foreign ministry also "protested against the use of Pakistani territory by the terrorists and rebels against the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Isna news agency reported. | The Iranian foreign ministry also "protested against the use of Pakistani territory by the terrorists and rebels against the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Isna news agency reported. |
| Earlier, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said "US action" contributed to the attack - an accusation dismissed by the US. | Earlier, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said "US action" contributed to the attack - an accusation dismissed by the US. |
| Banditry and kidnapping | Banditry and kidnapping |
| Sistan-Baluchistan is mainly made up of the Baluchi ethnic group, who belong to the Sunni Muslim minority of Shia-ruled Iran. | Sistan-Baluchistan is mainly made up of the Baluchi ethnic group, who belong to the Sunni Muslim minority of Shia-ruled Iran. |
| SISTAN-BALUCHISTAN ATTACKS May 2009 A bomb explodes at a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan, killing 19 and injuring 60.February 2007 Suspected militants killed 11, including Iranian Revolutionary Guards, in a bomb attack in the provincial capital Zahedan. March 2006 Gunmen posing as police kill 22 people, many government employees, after closing the Zabol-Zahedan road. | SISTAN-BALUCHISTAN ATTACKS May 2009 A bomb explodes at a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan, killing 19 and injuring 60.February 2007 Suspected militants killed 11, including Iranian Revolutionary Guards, in a bomb attack in the provincial capital Zahedan. March 2006 Gunmen posing as police kill 22 people, many government employees, after closing the Zabol-Zahedan road. |
| Jundallah has previously been accused by Iran of terrorist activities in the province. | Jundallah has previously been accused by Iran of terrorist activities in the province. |
| The province borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has long been affected by smuggling, drug trafficking, banditry and kidnapping. | The province borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has long been affected by smuggling, drug trafficking, banditry and kidnapping. |
| Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, says it is fighting against the political and religious oppression of the country's Sunni minority. | Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, says it is fighting against the political and religious oppression of the country's Sunni minority. |
| Local media cited officials as saying Jundallah had accepted responsibility for Sunday's bombing, though there was no direct claim from the group. | Local media cited officials as saying Jundallah had accepted responsibility for Sunday's bombing, though there was no direct claim from the group. |