Cape Town - The leaking of questions put to deputy president Jacob Zuma to the media by the Scorpions is evidence that a succession war has begun, says United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa.

In a statement the UDM leader - who was once an African National Congress (ANC) deputy minister - said it showed "without a doubt that the war for succession" in the ruling ANC has started.

It was also clear, he said, that the ANC leadership "is digging for dirt in each other's past. It is quite interesting that the Scorpions are investigating as far back as 1994 and even ANC financial matters which may well point to abuse of power and State resources above and beyond the arms deal debacle", says Holomisa.

Holomisa said his party was particularly happy that these questions are now being asked by the Scorpions, which he noted had earlier exonerated the state from wrongdoing in an earlier investigation.

The UDM called on President Thabo Mbeki to seriously consider the appointment of a judicial commission of inquiry. "For him to allow mudslinging between the office of the deputy president, the Scorpions and Zuma's intelligence loyalists cast the country in a bad light.

"The president himself has failed to explain how he ended up test-driving an expensive luxury vehicle from one of the contractors in the arms deal," noted Holomisa.

"The UDM further advises the government that there is a need for a forensic audit to be conducted of these companies that are ANC-manned."

"This fishing expedition-type of investigation is not going to help. It can be interpreted, even by ANC followers, that Zuma is being targeted. Let us have a judicial commission of inquiry to avoid feelings that people are the targets of political machinations.

"The UDM is not interested in the ANC's infighting, what we want to see is the full exposure of all wrongdoing related to the arms deal and other government programmes."

Earlier Business Day reported that Zuma had launched a furious attack on the Scorpions investigation into whether he solicited a bribe in connection with the arms deal.

He called the leaking of the Scorpion's questions to the Sunday Times as "totally unacceptable and despicable".

The Sunday Times said the list of 35 questions, sent to Zuma's Durban attorneys on July 9, related to the Zuma's relationship with his financial adviser, Durban businessman Schabir Shaik, and Shaik's company Nkobi Holdings.

Questions were also asked about financial benefits from various sources, including former President Nelson Mandela, and Zuma's debts, it reported.

The Scorpions had asked Zuma to provide details of all expenses he paid on behalf of the ANC since 1994 as well as his personal income since then. All diaries, official and private, travel plans and itineraries kept since 1995 had been requested, said the Sunday newspaper.

With acknowledgements to INet Bridge and News24.