JAKARTA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that reports claiming he was aiming to weaken the power of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) were part of black campaign against him in the presidential election scheduled on July 8, the Jakarta Post reported on Saturday.

    At a press conference held specially to address the issue, Yudhoyono said that he was fully committed to fighting graft, and the public should look back on his track record over past four and half years before judging him.

    "I have to respond to attacks against me, which I think have gone too far - too naked and improper in this competition," he told reporters on Friday.

    Media and anti-graft activist slammed the president on Friday after Kompas daily published his statements on the KPK's "extraordinary" power.

    "In regard to KPK, I have really given a warning that power must not go unchecked. The KPK already has extraordinary power. It seems it must only answer to God," Yudoyono told the daily.

    Observers said that the statement was an indication that the president wanted to control the anti-graft body and reduce its authority.

    On Friday, more than 30 civil society groups nationwide, under the banner of the Coalition for Saving Corruption Eradication Efforts, slammed the president's statement as contradictory to the spirit of corruption eradication, a threat to the existence of KPK.