Deputy President Jacob Zuma had not complied with the Scorpions' request that he provide answers to a series of questions about whether he solicited an annual R500 000 bribe from French arms company Thales by yesterday.

The Scorpions have indicated they hope to wrap up the investigation soon, but seem fairly relaxed about the timing of Zuma's response. However, the episode constitutes a subtle exercise in muscle-flexing between the Scorpions and Zuma following a series of angry responses to the corruption investigation.

In a lengthy statement released on Wednesday evening, Zuma revealed that in his correspondence with the Scorpions, the elite crime unit has asked that he respond "at your earliest convenience, preferably before the end of the month".

Zuma also lashed out in the statement at aspects of the Scorpions' approach to the case, emphasising that no deadline was set for his response. Zuma has denied the bribery allegations.

Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema said Zuma had not responded by the target time and the organisation was waiting for Zuma's lawyers to contact them.

"For now we are just waiting," Ngwema said.

Meanwhile, the SA Broadcasting Corporation reports that the African National Congress (ANC) has criticised the way the National Prosecuting Authority is handling its investigation into Zuma.

Kgalema Motlanthe, the ANC secretary-general, says the ruling party is suspicious of the motives of the organisation.

With acknowledgements to Tim Cohen and the Business Day.