White House Criticizes Iran Response to Egypt

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Iran's government is showing it's scared of the will of its people by cracking down on opposition leaders and blocking international media outlets in the wake of Egypt's uprising.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs says the Iranian government should allow its people to demonstrate and assemble peacefully.

The government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd) has clamped down on its opposition, even as it has cheered the uprising in Egypt.

Gibbs says the government in Tehran is arresting opponents, blocking international media outlets and turning of the Internet.