Iran backs 'justice-seeking' Egypt protesters

TEHRAN: Iran called on Egyptian leaders on Saturday to submit to "justice-seeking" demands and avoid violence as thousands of protesters clashed with troops in the Arab nation, state media reported.

"The Egyptians' demonstrations are a justice-seeking move," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA.

"Iran is following and carefully watching the events in Egypt and expects this country's officials to listen to the Muslim nation's voice and submit to their rightful demand," he said.

Mehmanparast urged Egyptian leaders to "avoid any violent crackdown by security and police forces against the wave of Islamic awakening which has taken the form of a popular move in this country."

Egyptian anti-government protesters took to the streets for the fifth straight day on Saturday, demanding the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.

Tehran-Cairo ties were severed in 1980 following the Islamic revolution in Iran and Egypt's recognition of Israel. The two countries have since only maintained interest sections in their respective capitals.

In 2009, Iran was shaken by massive anti-government protests triggered by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.

Dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with security forces, and the Islamic regime suffered major embarrassment when an opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi charged that several protesters had been raped in detention.

Over the past year Iranian protesters have stayed off the streets following a heavy-handed crackdown by security forces including Islamist hardline Basij militia, operating under Iran's ideological army the Revolutionary Guards.