Cairo – President Megawati Soekarnoputri has said the support she gave to Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso had nothing to do with his reelection victory.

"If he was reelected as governor, it was not because of me. Never relate it to me," she told a press conference here Thursday night, winding up her state visit to a number of African and European countries.

Egypt is the last leg of her two-week tour, which also took her to South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as Algeria, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

The president's entourage includes her husband Taufik Kiemas, chief economic minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayudha, State Minister for Environment Nabiel Makarim, and Industry and Trade Minister Rini MS Soewandi.

During the press conference, she said Sutiyoso's reelection was the decision of Jakarta's legislative council made on September 11.

She said it was actually common to support someone to run for a certain post. "[If it is said that] supporting others is okay, then why are the newspapers so noisy when I support a certain person?" she said as quoted by Antara as saying.

Megawati, in her capacity as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP), gave her support for Sutioyoso's reelection. The move prompted one candidate from the party, Roy BB Janis, to negate his bid for the gubernatorial race.

Paired with Fauzi Bowo as vice governor, Sutiyoso was reelected for the 2002-2007 term on Wednesday by 47 of 84 city councillors, despite outrage and opposition from tens of thousands of demonstrators from various organizations and student groups.

At least 25 students suffered serious wounds as they were hit by rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and water cannons. Other demonstrators were poisoned when an unidentified man handed out tainted food.

Sutiyoso is a suspect in the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996, then occupied by Megawati's supporters. At least four were killed and scores of others injured in the incident.