Updated

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency says gunmen have killed eight Iranian border guards in the country's volatile southeast, near the border with Pakistan.

The report says the attack took place on Monday in the restive Sistan-Baluchistan province. Fars says four of the killed soldiers were conscripts.

The area has been scene of occasional clashes between Iranian forces and militant groups believed to be affiliated with al-Qaida.

It was the second reported incident in a day in Sistan-Baluchistan near the Pakistani border.

Earlier Monday, Iran's official IRNA news said Revolutionary Guard units broke up a militant group linked to a "foreign intelligence" agency, killed three of its members and detained several. IRNA also said Guard forces confiscated a large amount of weapons and communication equipment from the militant group.