CAIRO, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Statements of support for the Egyptian presidency of the Arab League secretary-general are without merit, an opposition leader said.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces were said to have backed Arab League Secretary-General Nabil el-Arabi for the next president of Egypt. Arabi, however, said he hadn't discussed a candidacy with "any authoritative or partisan figures," Egyptian news service al-Ahram reports.
Egyptians are expected to have their first post-revolution election for president in May. Candidates have until March 10 to register for the presidential contest.
Mohammed ElBaradei, an Egyptian opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was quoted as saying Arabi "never intended to run for president." The Muslim Brotherhood later said it didn't endorse the Arab League leader.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party won just fewer than 50 percent of the seats in the post-revolution Parliament. It has said there are no plans to field a candidate for the first election since the country's revolution early last year.
