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Iranian bombing kills 18 people Iranian bombing 'kills 11 people'
(about 2 hours later)
Eighteen people have been killed in a bomb blast near a bus in the south- eastern Iranian city of Zahedan, the official Irna news agency has reported. Eleven people have been killed in a bomb blast near a bus in city of Zahedan in south-eastern Iran, the official Irna news agency has reported.
The bomb, hidden in a car, killed members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the agency said, although it is unclear if all the dead belonged to the guard. The bomb, hidden in a car, targeted members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, the agency said, although it is unclear if all the dead belonged to the guard.
Qassim Rezai, a military commander, described the act as "terrorism" and blamed "rebels" for the attack.Qassim Rezai, a military commander, described the act as "terrorism" and blamed "rebels" for the attack.
Reports say suspects behind the bombing have been arrested.Reports say suspects behind the bombing have been arrested.
The car apparently broke down, forcing the bus to stop. Its occupants left the scene after being picked up on motorcycles. Correspondents say an attack of this size and nature is unprecedented in Iran - hitting an elite force in broad daylight in an open street.
"In this thoughtless operation, 18 citizens of Zahedan were martyred. The bandits and the agents of insecurity in this criminal act put a bomb near the bus and martyred these people," Mr Rezai said. Remote control
Zahedan lies in the province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zahedan has been the focus of low-level unrest, with several security force members being killed in the last two months.
Fars news agency says a small car overtook the bus and then stopped in front of it, the occupants saying it had broken down.
They were then picked up by motorcycles and taken away before the bomb planted in the car exploded, apparently triggered by remote control.
A precise casualty number has been difficult to establish. The Iranian Red Crescent said only eight complete bodies had been recovered.
"The bandits and the agents of insecurity in this criminal act put a bomb near the bus and martyred these people," Mr Rezai said.
Irna said five suspects were arrested, including two suspects apprehended by members of the public.
The city lies in the province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
It has been hit by a string of attacks and kidnappings blamed on a hardline Sunni group called Jundallah (Allah's Brigade).It has been hit by a string of attacks and kidnappings blamed on a hardline Sunni group called Jundallah (Allah's Brigade).
Iranian officials have accused Britain and the United States of supporting ethnic minority rebels operating in the Islamic republic's sensitive border areas.Iranian officials have accused Britain and the United States of supporting ethnic minority rebels operating in the Islamic republic's sensitive border areas.
The Revolutionary Guard was formed in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution as a military force alongside the army that is closely tied to the country's Supreme Leader.