Political parties have roundly rejected Deputy President Jacob Zuma's denial of allegations that he may have been involved in bribery, corruption and inappropriate behaviour relating to the multi-billion rand arms deal.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) pointed out that Zuma's response to reports that his embattled financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, had travelled to a New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) conference in Senegal in April aboard a state plane - was inconsistent.

"Zuma's story just doesn't add up", said DA spokeswoman Raenette Taljaard.

In an interview with the Cape Times on Monday, Zuma said Shaik had been invited to the conference and he (Zuma) invited Shaik to travel to Senegal with him because he had heard tht Shaik was having problems with connecting flights.

"There is nothing strange about that", Zuma was quoted saying. "There is nothing wrong with that."

Shaik's lawyer told a Sunday newspaper that he had been invited by the Nepad secretariat. But the Nepad secretariat has denied that it invited Shaik.

"The most likely explanation is that Zuma, himself, invited Shaik to accompany him to the conference," said Taljaard.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa echoed calls first made by the DA for a judicial commission of inquiry into the matter.

"The problem is that we will never get to the truth about corruption in the arms deal because both (President Thabo) Mbeki and Zuma refused to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry," said Holomisa.

Holomisa candidly said he had no faith in the Scorpions and the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, headed by Advocate Bulelani Ngcuka.

"Bulelani is part of the ANC family, and many members of the Scorpions are members of the ANC Youth League."

New National Party MP Boy Geldenhuys said: "In his own interests, the deputy president should distance himself from Schabir Shaik."

Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia de Lille said that no-one could tell Zuma to sever his friendship with Shaik, but advised Zuma to learn some lessons from the Gerald Morkel-Jurgen Harksen saga.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Michaels and Cape Times.