GAROWE, Somalia Nov 16 (Garowe Online) - Presidential hopefuls in Somalia's Puntland region have rejected a newly appointed election commission, Radio Garowe reported Sunday.

Four candidates held a press conference in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, while another three candidates held a separate press conference in Bossaso, the region's economic hub.

The BBC Somali Service interviewed three candidates about the strong opposition to Puntland President Adde Muse's appointments to the eight-member election commission.

Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the leading opposition figure, said the presidential candidates cannot accept the new commission for several reasons. READ: Opposition chief receives huge welcome in Puntland capital

"We oppose this commission because it is not neutral," Mr. Farole said, adding: "The commission is composed of government employees, close relatives [of government leaders] and campaign managers."

Another candidate, ex-Puntland Fisheries Minister Ahmed Said O'Nur, said a group of presidential hopefuls issued a press statement a week ago about the election commission.

"We [candidates] asked that the government, the traditional elders and the opposition candidates jointly name the election commission, but unfortunately government employees have been appointed as commission members," Mr. O'Nur said.

A third candidate, Nuradin Adan Dirie in Bossaso, told the BBC correspondent that is "a surprise" that a presidential candidate single-handedly appoints the election commission.

"[Puntland President] Adde Muse is a presidential candidate with the equal rights as everyone else," Mr. Dirie said, while remarking that the other presidential hopefuls will call on the support of the public and the elders against Muse's favoritism.

Puntland elections are scheduled to be held in January 2009 with a host of candidates competing to unseat the incumbent.

RELATED:
READ: Puntland leader appoints election commission
READ: Opposition chief receives huge welcome in Puntland capital
READ: Puntland leader says govt will appoint election commission

Source: Garowe Online