TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has arrested a number of Iranian supporters of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group, the country's intelligence minister was quoted as saying by state television on Saturday.
"Iran's intelligence apparatus has identified and arrested small Iranian deviate branches of the al Qaeda group," state television quoted minister Ali Yunesi as saying. It did not elaborate or specify how many were detained.
Washington accuses Iran of harboring and collaborating with al Qaeda militants who fled Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, a charge Tehran denies.
Yunesi warned Iran would take a tough line against militants using Iran as a base. "Those who seek to misuse the safe situation in Iran will face serious consequences," he said.
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