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The controversial multi-billion rand arms deal, at the forefront of MPs' working lives for more than a year until the end of 2001, seems to be firmly back in the parliamentary spotlight.

Allegations that the final report of the multi-agency probe into the deal was "doctored" provoked angry responses from Cabinet ministers in the National Assembly yesterday.

Democratic Alliance MP Raenette Taljaard said in a statement in the House that "the role of the president and members of the executive in doctoring of the report needs to be investigated".

This followed claims that the final report of the investigation into the arms deal was heavily edited before being presented to Parliament.

"Madam Speaker, the issue of the arms procurement is with us again," Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota replied.

The minister warned MPs that it would set a dangerous precedent if a draft report was raised to the status upon which national decisions could be based.

The final report on the arms deal investigation - unveiled in Parliament in November 2001 - was based on the reports of three separate agencies.

"To take any one of the drafts and upon it allow for decisions to be taken that may annul decisions based on a submitted report, is a dangerous precedent," he said.

The arms deal was investigated by the Auditor-General, the Public Protector and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Auditor-General Shauket Fakie has since come under fire for reported "discrepancies" between a draft report submitted to the executive and the final report, prompting calls from the opposition for the probe to be re-opened.

Fakie has rejected the allegations, saying the draft and final reports have not been closely compared, and that he was obliged by law to submit draft audit reports to the executive.

Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin accused Taljaard of distorting the facts, and of impugning the reputation of the Auditor-General.

Earlier in the day, Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee (Scopa) resolved to ask the Speaker, Frene Ginwala, to decide how, and by whom, the allegations should be investigated.

"It is important that the correct route be taken," Scopa chairperson Francois Beukman said.

The last resolution taken on the arms deal, in 2002, was a resolution of Parliament and not the committee, and, therefore, Parliament was the forum to decide if the latest claims should be investigated.

Beukman also denied media reports that government's legal adviser had suggested the multi-agency probe should be re-opened.

Parliament's legal advisers, in an opinion presented to Scopa yesterday, advised the committee that it had the power to investigate the extent to which the report had been edited.

However, it made no recommendation on whether the arms deal should be re-investigated.

The African National Congress in Scopa rejected a Democratic Alliance request that the committee make a specific recommendation to Ginwala on how Parliament should investigate the matter.

ANC public accounts study group chairperson Vincent Smith said this would be "putting the cart before the horse," as the claims were merely media reports.

Parliament, rather than Scopa, should decide the way forward, he said.

Last week, DA leader Tony Leon asked Ginwala to set up a special ad hoc committee to investigate allegations the final report had been edited. – Sapa.

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