The vice president of the Puntland regional autonomy in northern Somalia held a press conference Thursday in the regional capital Garowe where he spoke out on terrorism, piracy and the upcoming regional elections.

Vice President Hassan Dahir Afqura, who returned from Djibouti last month, said the Puntland administration has made "a clear decision" about local pirates responsible for turning the region's shores into the world's most dangerous waters.

"Puntland has the power to fight the pirates," the VP said, citing a recent operation whereby security forces stormed a hijacked ship and captured ten pirates, who are now waiting court in Bossaso.

VP Afqura's recent trip to Djibouti was linked to talks with Western military officials regarding anti-piracy operations near the Puntland coast.

He condemned the October 29 suicide bombings that hit five targets in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa and the Puntland port city of Bossaso as "terror attacks" while suggesting that Puntland authorities know the identity of the attackers in both cases.

The Puntland VP called on the public to remain vigilant and to report to local police "suspicious people renting homes."

On the upcoming elections, VP Afqura said he hopes for peaceful and organized elections but did not directly endorse the candidacy of Puntland President Adde Muse.

Meanwhile, President Muse returned to Bossaso yesterday after talks in Dubai with Arab businessmen.

Insiders told Garowe Online that the Puntland leader was "unsuccessful" in attempts to lure upfront payments from the Arab businessmen in turn for managing port and airport facilities in Bossaso.

Some reports said the business interests expressed concern about Muse's chance to win the Puntland election in January 2009.