Nine foreign nationals killed near Pakistani border

Unidentified gunmen have killed nine foreign nationals in southeastern Iran near the Pakistani border.

According to the semi-official Mehr news agency on Saturday, no individuals or groups had claimed responsibility for the shootings in the restless Sistan-Baluchestan province.

The Baluch rights group Haalvash said on its website that the victims were Pakistani laborers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it said.

The shootings occurred as Iranian state media said the Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors had returned to their postings after being recalled when the neighbouring countries exchanged missile strikes last week aimed at what each said were militant targets.

The impoverished region has long been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and separatist militants and smugglers carrying opium from Afghanistan, the world's top producer of the drug.