Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has defended an election commission appointed by the regional government, but rejected by many presidential candidates.

President Yusuf, who is in the Puntland capital of Garowe, told a Sunday press conference that he has been busy mediating between Puntland leader Gen. Adde Muse and presidential candidates in recent days.

"The [Puntland] government has the right to appoint the election commission," the Somali leader said.

He indicated that the Puntland government and the opposition candidates agreed that the election commission has "no power to reject" a would-be lawmaker, granted that the lawmaker has the signed content of clan elders and is "not a criminal or terrorist."

Somalia's president said Puntland presidential candidates who spoke with the media yesterday are mistaken, saying: "I support any leader who can work towards the unity and future of Puntland."

However, President Yusuf did not provide a clear answer to the presidential candidates' demand that Puntland leader Muse not use public funds to finance his re-election campaign.

He warned all candidates against acts of insecurity that threaten the stability in Puntland.