US SECRETARY OF STATE Hillary Clinton has said she supports the actions of protesters in Iran and they have the same right to demonstrate as people in Egypt.

Thousands attended anti-government protests in the Iranian capital Tehran yesterday and clashed with security forces.

Police fired tear gas and arrested dozens of demonstrators who were holding protests inspired by recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, where heads of state resigned after intense public pressure.

Clinton criticised the Iranian government for using violence “to prevent the free expression of ideas from their own people”.

She added:

There needs to be a commitment to open up the political system in Iran to hear the voices of the opposition and civil society.

Clinton said that what was happening in Iran was a testament to the courage of Iranians and an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime.

Iranian authorities said one person was killed during the confrontation between demonstrators and police yesterday and several were arrested, the AP reports.

Video posted by TheIranReporter

Bahrain

Meanwhile, in Bahrain, a man was killed by police while attending the funeral of a protester killed by a rubber bullet during demonstrations yesterday. Although police initially attempted to block the funeral and clashed with mourners and protesters before allowing it to go ahead.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent said that at least 25 people were injured in the clashes.