Amr Moussa denies links to Mubarak era

CAIRO, April 18 (UPI) -- Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa denied allegations he was getting political support from the outlawed National Democratic Party in Egypt.

Military authorities during the weekend dismantled the NDP, the party led by former President Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was ousted in a February revolution after serving as president of Egypt for three decades.

Moussa, who served as foreign minister under Mubarak, threw his hat into the ring earlier this year for the election for president scheduled for the fall.

Moussa told Egyptian daily Ahram Online that he wasn't getting any backing from members of the disbanded NDP. He maintained there was "no coordination whatsoever" between his political role in Egypt and NDP officials.

"One of my first demands was dissolving the NDP for ruining the political life in Egypt as well as spreading corruption and causing numerous damages," he was quoted as saying.

He added he would fill his campaign staff with people in the remote Egyptian provinces "and minorities, especially peasants, who have been long neglected."

Members of the NDP, including Mubarak, his sons, and several of the country's former ministers are charged with corruption, abuse of power and atrocities in Egypt.