Iranian Forces Clash With Insurgents In Northwest

(RFE/RL) March 1, 2007 -- Iran's Revolutionary Guards have clashed with insurgents in West Azerbaijan Province near the Turkish and Iraqi borders.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported today that 17 militants and four soldiers were killed, without specifying when the fighting took place.

Fighting between Iranian security forces and Kurdish insurgents in the country's northwest has increased in recent weeks.

On February 28, the head of the Revolutionary Guards said Iran would "chase" Kurdish rebels and other militants in Iraq if Baghdad fails to expel them from border zones.

(AFP, AP)