TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Eleven policemen were killed and seven others injured in a "terrorist" attack in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan early Friday, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

During the attack on a police station in Rask County, which took place at 2 a.m. local time (2230 GMT) and lasted for more than an hour, two assailants were also killed and one wounded in clashes with the police forces, the report said.

The "Jaish al-Zulm group," a separatist cell that Iran says has ties to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, Tasnim noted.

The Iranian security forces were conducting a manhunt for the rest of the "terrorists," who had fled the scene, and a helicopter was deployed along the common border with Pakistan to identify the assailants, the report added.

Commenting on the incident, the provincial police commander, Doostali Jalilian, said full security and calm had been restored to the county, vowing to give a "decisive response to the terrorists."

Bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province has witnessed several terrorist attacks on both civilians and security forces over the past years.

Last month, members of the "Jaish al-Zulm group" attacked police patrol units in the province, killing one policeman and injuring four others.

In May, six Iranian border guards were killed in a clash with the group's members in Saravan County in the province. Enditem

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