Mubarak denies abuse of power

 CAIRO (AP):

In the first remarks since his ouster, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak denied he abused his authority to amass wealth and property in a speech broadcast yesterday, as hundreds of protesters occupying the heart of Cairo shouted for him to be brought to trial.

Mubarak, forced out of office two months ago by a popular uprising, said he was willing to cooperate in any investigation to prove that he did not own property abroad or posses foreign bank accounts.

Shortly after Mubarak's pre-recorded speech was aired, Egypt's prosecutor general told state TV he issued orders yesterday summoning the ex-president and his two sons for questioning. The station quoted a prosecution spokesman as saying the scope of the investigation of Mubarak and his sons would include the crackdown on protesters that killed an estimated 300 people as well as the corruption allegations.

Holding Mubarak and top officials in his government accountable for the violence is a central demand of anti-Mubarak movement.

The pan-Arab news channel Al-Arabiya, which broadcast the speech, said it was recorded Saturday, a day after demonstrators gathered in huge numbers in Cairo to demand that the military council that took over from Mubarak launch an investigation into his wealth. There was no video image accompanying the recording of Mubarak's voice.

The speech seemed to be as much about preserving his dignity as about denying the accusations against him.

"I was hurt very much, and I am still hurting ... my family and I ... from the unjust campaigns against us and false allegations that aim to smear my reputation, my integrity, my (political) stances and my military history," Mubarak said.

Egyptians fed up with poverty, corruption and political repression forced Mubarak to leave office on February 11 after 18 days of mass demonstrations.