The Cape Bar Council has appointed two senior counsel to probe a dispute over legal representation in a Cape High Court challenge to the multibillion-rand arms deal.

The row was sparked by a claim by Terry Crawford-Browne - who, as head of the South African branch of Economists Allied for Arms Reduction (Ecaar) is challenging the arms deal - that Norman Arendse, the advocate acting for Ecaar, was "colluding with the government".

Crawford-Browne and his legal team parted ways last month.

Arendse and Crawford-Browne have asked the bar council to investigate the allegation. Arendse has said the claim is "completely outrageous, a figment of (Crawford-Browne's) imagination and highly defamatory".

Chairman Owen Rogers said the council had asked two senior counsel who were not members to look at the written submissions from Crawford-Browne and Arendse. They had been asked to tell the council as soon as possible whether there appeared to be a case for further investigation.

The council had not decided whether there was merit in either side's statements.

"We have simply asked two senior members to report back to us. We have asked them to deal with it urgently.

"The bar council will take its own view once we have that report."

Ecaar is seeking to have the arms deal overturned on the grounds that it is strategically, economically and financially irrational and therefore unconstitutional.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Cape Times.