Iran vows to retaliate after rebels kill 16 policemen

Tehran: Iran will give a "tooth-breaking" response to a rebel group that killed 16 policemen it abducted in June, a senior official said in comments broadcast on Saturday.

The official Irna news agency reported that all the seized police had been killed, after they were taken hostage some six months ago.

Iran says the rebel Jundollah (God's Soldiers) group has links with Al Qaida. In August 2007, Iran accused Jundollah of kidnapping 30 people.

"We will give a firm and tooth-breaking response to armed rebels in border areas," Iranian Prosecutor-General Qorban Ali Dori Najafabadi was quoted as saying by state radio.

He did not elaborate on what action Iran would take.