Iran says Kurd rebels attacked pipeline - agency

TEHRAN, Oct 1 (Reuters) Iranian police today accused Kurdish separatists of blowing up a section of a pipeline carrying natural gas to Turkey, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The explosion occurred on Thursday in a remote mountainous district near the border town of Bazargan in northewestern Iran that disrupted gas exports to Turkey.

''Two members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) terrorist group carried out the pipeline attack. One of them has been arrested,'' Fars quoted Western Azerbaijan police chief Hasan Karami as saying.

He said a security operation had been launched after the attack to track down another suspect.

There was no independent confirmation of the report, but the PKK has targeted gas pipelines in eastern Turkey in the past.

Iranian officials have said that 60-70 metres of the pipeline would have to be replaced.

Turkish and Iranian Kurdish rebels operate in the region, particularly from bases in northern Iraq.

Ankara blames PKK rebels for the deaths of more than 30,000 people since the group launched its armed campaign for an independent Kurdish homeland in southeastern Turkey in 1984.

Karami said Iran had agreed with Turkey to step up its fight against the outlawed Party of Free Life of Kurdistan PJAK (Pejak), described as the Iranian wing of the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Iran accuses PJAK of killing dozens of its armed forces in insurgent attacks in the areas close to the border with Turkey.

REUTERS PR VC1758