Iranian hostages freed in Pakistan - Iranian media

TEHRAN, Aug 20 (Reuters) Some 20 people who were taken hostage by gunmen in southeastern Iran were freed in neighbouring Pakistan today after a Pakistani police operation, Iranian media reported a day after they were seized.

''As a result of a surprise operation by Pakistani police ... 21 Iranian hostages were freed, 15 bandits were arrested and two of them were killed or wounded,'' Iran's state broadcaster quoted an Iranian deputy commander as saying.

Iran's ISNA news agency said 20 hostages had been freed, but it did not make clear whether this meant all of them were now released because some previous reports said as many as 30 were held. Others gave lower figures.

REUTERS NY KN1509