Johannesburg: The government's legal advisers have suggested that the investigation into the country's controversial arms deal be re-opened, the SABC reported last night.

The legal advisers had said in a confidential report to the chairman of parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Francois Beukman, that there were "sufficient grounds" for the enquiry to be re-opened.

The advice follows controversy over the alleged editing by auditor-general Shauket Fakie of the report of an inquiry into the deal presented to parliament last year.

The edited version of the report is said to have left out findings on gifts received by key players in the arms deal, and omitted "inaccuracies" in a defence department presentation to Scopa.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Cape Times.