TEHRAN, July 17: Iran has arrested a number of local supporters of Al Qaeda terror network, the country's intelligence minister was quoted as saying by state television on Saturday.

"Iran's intelligence apparatus has identified and arrested small Iranian deviate branches of the Al Qaeda (terror) group," state television quoted minister Ali Yunesi as saying. It did not specify how many people were detained.

Mr Yunesi warned Iran would take a tough line against militants using Iran as a base. "Those who seek to misuse the safe situation in Iran will face serious consequences," he said.

Iran says it has arrested and repatriated hundreds of Al Qaeda suspects in the past two years. It also says it wants to try other Al Qaeda suspects it has detained who come from countries viewed as unfriendly.

A suspected Saudi Al Qaeda militant, Khaled Al Harbi, who appeared in a videotape with Osama bin Laden, gave himself up in Iran this week.

US officials said on Friday the commission investigating the Sept 11 links to Iran is expected to release its report next week.

Sources in US said the report would mention that some of the hijackers had passed through Iran on the way to the United States. But they said there was no evidence that Iran helped Al Qaeda with the Sept 11 attacks.-Reuters