Cairo nixes corruption from elections

The Egyptian election commission announced anyone tied to political corruption would be barred from the political process for five years. Egypt is preparing for the first round of elections since the country's revolution unseated Hosni Mubarak after more than 30 years in power. A series of elections begins late this month that will ultimately lead to presidential elections at some point next year. Abdel Moezz Ibrahim, chairman of the High Elections Commission, said a decision was made following talks with leaders of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to figure corruption measures into the voting laws, the Egyptian State Information Service Reports. Under the corruption law, anyone charged with exploiting a position of power in the political arena would be prevented from voting and running for office for the next five years, ESIS adds. SCAF has faced protests over a decision to let a former official in National Democracy Party form a new party to take part in elections this year and in 2012. The NDP, Egypt's former ruling party, was disbanded after Mubarak was ousted. Egypt's high court repealed an earlier decision that barred NPD officials from running for office. The court ruled NDP members who are Egyptian citizens have the same political rights as other citizens. The ruling doesn't hold for NPD members with a criminal record, however. The first round of voting is scheduled Nov. 28.