WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday asked Congress for another 75 million U.S. dollars this year for American efforts to install the so-called democracy in Iran.

    The money, requested as supplemental funding for the 2006 fiscal year, on top of the 60 million dollars already appropriated, is expected to be used for radio and satellite television broadcasting and for programs to help Iranians study abroad, State Department officials said.

    The United States is working with non-governmental organizations to develop a support network for political dissidents and human rights activists in Iran, Rice said.

    The top U.S. diplomat said that Washington has invested more than 4 million dollars in projects over the past two years aiming at empowering Iranian citizens in their call for political and economic freedoms.

    The United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran since the 1979 storming of the U.S. Embassy in Iran and maintains broad economic sanctions against the Islamic republic. Enditem