Parliament's watchdog public accounts committee is to meet today to begin compiling its second interim report on South Africa's controversial multi-billion rand arms deal. 

The committee is expected to formulate its response to a marathon meeting, held on Monday, with three Cabinet ministers who criticised the committee's work, as well as to a stinging letter from Jacob Zuma, the deputy president. 

It is also due to again discuss internal differences on whether it called for the special investigative unit to be included in a probe into the deal. 

Trevor Manuel, the Finance Minister, Alec Erwin, the Trade and Industry Minister, and Mosiuoa Lekota, the Defence Minister, appeared before the committee to explain their criticism of Scopa's interim report to Parliament. 

Along with Jeff Radebe, the Public Enterprises Minister, the four told a press conference in January that the committee was incompetent and irresponsible, and did not understand how arms deals worked. The ministers defended their stance in a sometimes heated debate on Monday. 

In its first interim report, the committee recommended a multi-agency probe into the arms procurement package. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and SABC News.