Mogadishu (SD) – The Council of Union of Presidential Candidates in a meeting today appointed a 28-member committee, named the National Electoral Safety Commission.

Ridwan Hirsi, a spokesman for the Union of Presidential Candidates, said the commission was working to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

The appointment of the opposition Electoral commission comes as the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) elected a chairman and deputy chairman at a meeting in Mogadishu today. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed and Mowlid Matan were the elected officials.

The steps taken by the opposition and the government today seem to escalate the electoral dispute in the country.

Opposition candidates also expressed concern on a number of issues in the country, including political instability in some regional administrations such as Hirshabelle, which is in a state of crisis, as well as Jubbaland.

They called on the Federal Government of Somalia not to their demands and to recognize that the country should hold free and fair elections.

They also called on the federal government to refrain from creating a political situation and hold disputed elections as the government has so far not responded to their concerns.