BOSSASO, Somalia Nov 9 (Garowe Online) - The leader of a regional government in northern Somalia has pledged to organize peaceful elections while rejecting opposition candidates' loud calls for a nonpartisan election commission.

Gen. Mohamud "Adde" Muse, the president of the Puntland regional authority, told the BBC Somali Service during a Saturday interview that the law allows the government to appoint members of the election commission.

"We have the right [to appoint] but let me tell you that it [election commission] is not a council that I can simply appoint. There are laws and every region [in Puntland] must send one delegate," the Puntland leader said.

Gen. Adde Muse, Puntland leader

He downsized the election commission's impact on the upcoming 2009 presidential elections, saying: "All they can do is settle disputes when there is an argument over a parliament seat."

Under Puntland's clan-based political system, the 66 seats in parliament are allocated to a multitude of native sub-clans with each MP requiring the signed consent of his sub-clan's traditional chiefs (Issims).

President Muse said he is determined to hold "peaceful and democratic elections," while dismissing speculation of a war with Somaliland as "impossible."

"I have a difficult time running this place now, when it is peaceful," he admitted.

Candidates' communiqué

A group of Puntland presidential candidates who issued a joint communiqué in the region' s administrative capital Garowe called on the Muse government to include the candidates in the selection process.

The communiqué was signed by six candidates, namely: ex-Somali Prime Minister Hassan Abshir; ex-Puntland Fisheries Minister Ahmed Said O'Nur; Prof. Muhayadin Ali Yusuf; entrepreneur Mohamed Abdi Nur; Nuradin Adan Dirie; and Abdi Haji Shulu'o.

The six candidates' communiqué appealed for seats in the new election commission and the new parliament to be given to people of high character, who are intelligent and honest.

Further, the candidates called for all presidential hopefuls to unite in the interests of holding peaceful elections and a smooth transition of power.

The communiqué warned the Muse government against "opening hostilities that could set back the elections," while demanding that government officials do not use public funds to finance the election campaign.

Last month, Puntland opposition leader Abdirahman Farole called for a nonpartisan election commission and warned the government against using public money to finance President Muse's re-election bid.

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Source: Garowe Online