PRETORIA - President Thabo Mbeki has delayed his decision on the investigating units that should probe South Africa's controversial R43 billion arms deal, the presidency said yesterday.

There may be an announcement today, presidential spokesman Nazeem Mahatey said.

Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee late last year called for allegations of corruption in the arms deal to be investigated by the auditor general, the directorate of public prosecutions, the public protector and the Heath special investigating unit.

Justice Minister Penuell Maduna has advised Mbeki to exclude the Heath unit. This evoked outrage from the opposition which warned that the exclusion of the Heath unit would damage the credibility of the probe.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Daily Dispatch.