Iran accuses outside forces of role in attack

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has claimed a Sunni rebel group, blamed for a recent suicide attack, is linked to US, British and Pakistani intelligence.

Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari added: 'Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them.'

Pakistan has condemned the suicide bomb attack and denied that 'some security agents' were cooperating with the bombers.

42 people were killed in yesterday's attack on the elite Revolutionary Guards in the southeast of the country.

'Pakistan is not involved in terrorist activities ... we are striving to eradicate this menace,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the 'ghastly act of terrorism' in predominantly Shia Iran.

Pakistan has in the past backed Sunni Muslim militant groups, particularly in Afghanistan in the 1980s, when it supported militants battling Soviet occupiers.

Pakistan also supported militants who have been battling Indian security forces in the disputed Kashmir region.

Both Afghanistan and India say Pakistan has maintained links to some militant groups.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying that security agents in Pakistan were cooperating with the militants behind yesterday's bombing.

'We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are cooperating with the main elements of this terrorist incident ... We regard it as our right to demand these criminals from them,' Mr Ahmadinejad said, without giving details.

President Ahmadinejad called on Pakistan not to waste time in cooperating with Iran in apprehending the perpetrators.

Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been generally good in recent years and the neighbours are cooperating on plans to build a natural gas pipeline link.

But Iran has in the past accused Pakistan of hosting members of the Sunni insurgent group Jundollah, or God's soldiers.

Iran media say Sunni insurgent group Jundollah claimed responsibility for the bombing.

State television said Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Tehran, saying there was evidence 'the perpetrators of this attack came to Iran from Pakistan'.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik spoke to his Iranian counterpart late on Sunday and told him that Jundollah chief, Abdolmalek Rigi, was not in Pakistan.

Mr Malik also gave an assurance of cooperation in fighting terrorism.

'Pakistan will continue to cooperate with Iranian brothers,' Mr Malik's said.