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Militants kill seized Iran police Iranian police killed by rebels
(about 7 hours later)
Iran officials have confirmed the deaths of 13 police officers who were being held by Sunni militants. Iranian officials have confirmed the deaths of 16 police officers who were abducted by Sunni militants in June.
The men were among 16 officers seized in south-eastern Iran in June by a group called Jundullah. The men were seized in south-eastern Iran by a group called Jundullah, which represents Iran's Baluch minority.
Three of the group were killed in June and the others were reportedly taken across the border to Pakistan. Three of the group were killed in June and the others were reportedly taken across the border into Pakistan.
Iranian police patrol the long border with Pakistan and suffer regular casualties in the battle against drug smugglers, say correspondents.Iranian police patrol the long border with Pakistan and suffer regular casualties in the battle against drug smugglers, say correspondents.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says Jundullah, or Army of God, is engaged in a mixture of political violence and drug smuggling in the often lawless region.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says Jundullah, or Army of God, is engaged in a mixture of political violence and drug smuggling in the often lawless region.
The group seized the men from a checkpoint in Saravan, Sistan-Baluchestan province, and demanded the release of 200 of its members from Iranian prisons.The group seized the men from a checkpoint in Saravan, Sistan-Baluchestan province, and demanded the release of 200 of its members from Iranian prisons.
Soon afterwards, Arabic news channel Al Arabiya showed footage of three of the police officers being killed by the militants. Soon afterwards, Arabic news channel al-Arabiya showed footage of three of the police officers being killed by the militants.
On Thursday, deputy police commander Ahmad Reza Radan said that investigations by the government, intelligence authorities and police had now shown that "all of our loved ones have been martyred by Jundullah terrorists".On Thursday, deputy police commander Ahmad Reza Radan said that investigations by the government, intelligence authorities and police had now shown that "all of our loved ones have been martyred by Jundullah terrorists".
Mr Radan said the authorities were investigating how to retrieve the men's bodies.Mr Radan said the authorities were investigating how to retrieve the men's bodies.
Sistan-Baluchestan province borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan and has a history of banditry and kidnappings, say correspondents.Sistan-Baluchestan province borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan and has a history of banditry and kidnappings, say correspondents.
The region is also one of the main routes for smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Europe. It is one of the poorest regions of Iran and one of the main routes for smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to Europe.