The Iranian opposition movement took to the streets Thursday in an attempt to co-opt the government's celebration of the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution. Hundreds of thousands of government supporters gathered in Tehran to mark the anniversary, while police are reported to have clashed with protesters in several sites around the city.

Debates over the size of the crowd for the day continue. But far more significant may be whether the day had any significance beyond a setpiece to make the ritual statement of Iranian progress and to denounce the "arrogance of power" of the "West".

Iranian officials planned a rally today -- the thirty-second anniversary of Iran's 1979 revolution -- in support of the popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. They are claiming solidarity with Egyptian protesters (AFP) in hopes that Egypt's turmoil will result in an Islamic regime in the Arab world's most populous nation.

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karubi to hold a rally Monday in support of the antigovernment uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the Iranian Labor News Agency reported. "If an individual truly shares the brave Egyptians and Tunisians motivation, then he will participate in the rally to be held on [Friday], the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory, along with the government and the nation," said Iranian Judiciary Spokesman Gholamhoseyn Ezhe'i.

With democracy tremors rocking the Arab world, Iran's opposition has challenged its hard-line leaders to allow a peaceful demonstration - ostensibly in support of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.