Tehran: Iran's security forces have arrested the leader of an armed Sunni opposition group waging a low-level insurgency in southeastern Iran, state television reported Tuesday.
The broadcast quoted an Intelligence Ministry statement that reported the arrest of Abdulmalik Rigi, whose Jundallah group has claimed responsibility for bombing attacks that have killed dozens in recent years, including five senior commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard in October.
The TV report did not provide further details.
Jundallah, which Iran suspects of having links with the Al Qaida terror group, gained notice six years ago with sporadic attacks and kidnappings. It claims minority Sunni tribes in southeastern Iran suffer discrimination at the hands of Iran's Shiite leadership.
Rigi has said in the past that the group did not seek to break away from Iran but that violence was necessary to draw attention to alleged discrimination.
Iran has accused the U.S. and Britain of aiding the Sunni militant group, with the aim of weakening the Iranian government. Both Washington and London have denied the charges.
Rigi was believed to be hiding in Pakistan but Pakistani authorities repeatedly claimed he was hiding in Afghanistan.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Mohammad Marzieh, a local judiciary official, as saying that Rigi was arrested early Tuesday and "has entered Iran." Marzieh didn't say where Rigi was detained.
"He is being held by intelligence forces ... but will be handed over to judiciary officials," Fars quoted him as saying.
Pakistani authorities say they have been cooperating with Iran and have handed over a dozen suspected militants in recent months, including Rigi's brother Abdulhamid Rigi.
Abdulhamid Rigi had been scheduled to be hanged in July but his execution was postponed without explanation.
