Gunmen attack police in east Iran

Gunmen in south-east Iran have killed two policemen and kidnapped four others, taking them to neighbouring Pakistan, Iranian officials say.

The country's national police chief, Gen Ahmadi Moghaddam, blamed "bandits" for the attack, which occurred in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

He gave no further details of the incident. Pakistani officials say they have no information on the kidnapping.

Drug smugglers and militants are known to operate in the area.

The Iranian government has repeatedly urged Pakistan to help improve security in the border area.

Two weeks ago suspected militants killed 11 Iranian revolutionary guards in a bomb attack in the provincial capital Zahedan.

Sistan-Baluchistan has a substantial Sunni Muslim Baluch community.

Police have sometimes clashed with both hardline Sunni militants and gangs transporting opium from Afghanistan.