Iranian gas pipeline to Turkey bombed

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TEHRAN, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Iranian media said Monday that saboteurs bombed a natural gas pipeline in Turkey, causing a disruption in the flow of supplies.

Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV notes that authorities in the eastern Turkish province of Agri reported a bombing forced the disruption of natural gas last weekend. The report suggested the bombing was the act of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party, known by its Kurdish initials PKK, though there were no claims of responsibility.

State media in Turkey reported Friday that 28 soldiers were injured in "a terrorist attack (that) targeted the gas pipeline" in the same area. If confirmed in the same region, the weekend attack would mark the third in about as many weeks.

Turkish forces have ramped up their activity against PKK militants recently. Last week, at least 18 PKK militants were killed in clashes with government forces in southeast Hakkari province. Three Turkish soldiers were killed in earlier clashes with the militant group.

Iran offered no estimate for when the pipeline would return to service.