(CNN) -- Iranian authorities have executed the leader of a Sunni militant group blamed for dozens of attacks in the country, state media said Sunday.
Abdolmalek Rigi, who headed Jundallah (Soldiers of God), was hanged after being convicted of committing 79 crimes, including armed robbery, planting bombs and attacks against police and military forces, Press TV reported.
Authorities arrested him February 23 when he was on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan, Press TV said.
Iran has blamed Jundallah for carrying out deadly bombings, abductions and targeted killings in the southeastern Sistan-Balochistan province, which borders Pakistan. It has accused the group of trying to destabilize Iran with the backing of the West.
Jundallah claims it has no separatist aspirations but rather it wants the predominantly Shiite country to stop persecuting the Sunni Balochis who live in the province.
