The president of Somalia's Puntland regional administration, Gen. Adde Muse, has officially appointed members of the election commission.
A presidential decree issued by Muse's office on Saturday named the eight members of the Commission for the Ratification and Settlement of the Council of Representatives (parliament), also known as the election commision.
Each of Puntland's seven administrative regions received a seat in the commission, with an eighth seat reserved for the commission's secretary.
Mr. Barkhad Ali Salax, President Muse's policy adviser, was appointed as chairman of the election commission.
Puntland presidential elections are slated for January 2009. None of the region's presidential hopefuls have publicy spoken about the new election commission.