TEHRAN, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers were killed early Tuesday in an attack by several "thugs" in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

The two police officers, identified as Mokhtar Momeni and Abouzar Omidvar, were assaulted at around 02:00 a.m. local time (2230 GMT) when patrolling with their colleagues at the entrance to Bampur County, Police Commander of the province Mohammad Qanbari was quoted as saying.

The "thugs" fled the scene after the attack, according to Qanbari.

Some clues have been found and search was underway to arrest the suspects, he noted.