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Jundallah Claims Responsibility for Deadly Iran Blasts

   VOA News 16 July 2010
   People gather at the scene of bomb blasts in the provincial capital of
   Zahedan, Iran, 15 Jul 2010

Photo: AP

   People gather at the scene of bomb blasts in the provincial capital of
   Zahedan, Iran, 15 Jul 2010

   The  Sunni  Muslim militant group Jundallah has claimed responsibility
   for  Thursday's  twin  suicide bombings outside of a prominent Shi'ite
   mosque in southeastern Iran.
   Iranian  officials  say  at  least 27 people were killed and about 270
   wounded  in  the  blasts.   They  occurred as worshippers gathered in
   Zahedan  to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson,
   Imam  Hussein.   The  victims  include  members  of  Iran's  powerful
   Revolutionary Guard.
   Iranian   officials   have   announced   three  days  of  mourning  in
   Sistan-Baluchistan province.
   Jundallah,  or  Soldiers  of  God,  says it carried out the attacks in
   retaliation  for  Iran's  execution  in  June  of  the group's leader,
   Abdolmalek  Rigi.    Iran  had  convicted  the  militant  leader  of
   terrorism.   On  its  website, the group warned of more explosions to
   come.
   The  group  also  claims  it  carried  out a similar mosque attack two
   months  ago  that  killed  25  people in Zahedan.  And, it says it is
   responsible  for  a  bomb  attack  last October that killed 57 people,
   including several top Revolutionary Guard commanders.
   Iran  has  accused  the United States and Britain of funding Jundallah
   militants  in  an  effort  to destabilize the Iranian government. Iran
   says  Jundallah is based in Pakistan.  The U.S., Britain and Pakistan
   all have denied backing Jundallah.
   Jundallah members say they are fighting to secure rights for the Sunni
   Baluchis in Shi'ite-dominated Iran.
   Sistan-Baluchistan  province, an impoverished area bordering Pakistan,
   is  the  base  for  an  insurgency  led  by  the Sunni militant group.
   Shi'ites in the province have been the target of numerous attacks.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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