Washington:
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday expressed support for the tens of thousands of protesters in Iran's capital, saying they "deserve to have the same rights that they saw being played out in Egypt and are part of their own birthright."
Speaking to reporters after meeting House Speaker, Ohio Republican, John Boehner on Capitol Hill, Clinton said she and others in Barack Obama's administration "very clearly and directly support the aspirations of the people who are in the streets" of Tehran.
She spoke of the "hypocrisy" of the Iranian government that hailed the protests in Egypt but has tried to suppress opposition at home.
She said there "needs to be a commitment to open up the political system, to hear the voices of the opposition and civil society."
Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters broke out in central Tehran on Monday as eyewitness reports claimed security forces fired tear gas at opposition supporters hoping to evoke Egypt's recent popular uprising.
The opposition called for a demonstration on Monday in solidarity with Egypt's popular revolt that a few days earlier forced the President there to resign after nearly 30 years in office.
The rally is the first major show of strength for Iran's opposition in more than a year.