Ho, April 29, GNA - President Jerry John Rawlings on Saturday appealed to members of the National Democratic Congress to unite so that they do not play into the hands of the party's opponents.

President Rawlings was opening the extraordinary delegates' congress of the NDC at Ho, at which the delegates endorsed Vice- President John Atta Mills as the party's presidential candidate for the December general elections.

He urged the party executives to allow room for those who seek to air their grievances or disagreements in a spirit of discipline and constructive criticism. He was not happy about feuds among some party members, which he said, are sometimes carried to the public through the press.

President Rawlings called for massive support for Professor Mills and said that he was one of the few respectable Ghanaians who accepted the challenge to serve the country while many others refused on account of the nature of politics in the country.

He explained that the choice of a running mate is the prerogative of the presidential candidate in consultation with the party leadership and urged members to respect the decision that would emerge.

The President appealed to the media not to extend their hostility to Professor Mills saying, "this is my sincere request to you".