Iran says four PJAK members killed in border clash

BAGHDAD, Iraq — BAGHDAD — Iranian police said four members of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) were killed in a clash with security forces while trying to cross the border into the country. The group was intercepted in the city of Bender in West Azerbaijan province, according to Iranian police spokesman Saeed Montazer al-Mehdi. Montazer al-Mehdi said the security forces detected the group attempting to infiltrate Iranian territory and engaged them in an armed confrontation, during which all four members were killed. The spokesman did not specify when the incident occurred. Police said a search of the area turned up pistols, ammunition magazines, hand grenades and other weapons and munitions. No further details were immediately available on the incident or on possible additional suspects. PJAK is an Iranian Kurdish opposition group that has carried out armed operations against Iranian security forces, primarily in the country's northwestern Kurdish regions.