TEHRAN, Aug 16 (AFP) - 14h46 - Four Iranian policemen who had been seized by Kurdish rebels in West Azerbaijan province in the northwestern mountains have been freed after three days in captivity, the ISNA student news agency reported Tuesday.After great pressure was put on the Pejak group, the four captive police were released in Piranshar at a post on the border (with Iraq) on Monday night, police Major Shahnam Rezai told the news agency.

The authorities say the Pejak group has links with the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party active across the border in Turkey and in neighbouring areas of Iraq.

Eight Iranian soldiers and two civilians are reported to have been killed in clashes with the group in mainly Kurdish areas of northwestern Iran in recent months.