President Thabo Mbeki has labelled as "outright lies" allegations that the ANC is in possession of an authentic list of members who worked as agents in apartheid intelligence services.

Mbeki's comments have ruled out any possibility that the names of spies believed to be part of the classified TRC documents could be released. The ministry of intelligence had appointed a committee to make recommendations regarding declassifying the state's sensitive information, including 34 boxes of TRC documents. Asked to comment on Mbeki's remarks, intelligence ministry spokesperson Lorna Daniels referred to a statement made by Professor Bernard Magubane, who chairs the committee on declassification.

Magubane had said two weeks ago the release of such names depended on international best practice. South Africa would consider its own historical circumstances before it could take such a decision.

Writing in the ANC online publication, Mbeki dismissed calls that the ruling party publish names of its members who allegedly served as spies .

He questioned the motives of these calls, saying they were driven by a bid to undo the reconciliation achievements of the TRC .

"Quite why this [publishing of names] should apply only to members of the ANC is not explained.

"The fact is there are many . . . in our country, including some who argue for the 'outing' of suspected former agents of the apartheid system within our ranks, who worked to sustain the apartheid system, even as agents of its secret service."

Mbeki said to allege, with no effort to prove the allegations, that government members worked in apartheid intelligence, was like "fishing in muddy waters".

He said the ANC was also capable of asserting that various South Africans and foreigners, including journalists, intellectuals and politicians, served as apartheid agents. Such a move would hamper the country from advancing beyond the conflict of the past. He warned in time "all those who feel free to charge others in our ranks with having been agents of apartheid will have to answer for the charges they have made".

People would not forgive them for attempting to undermine the country's progress, he said.

Mbeki's comments come two weeks after he appointed a judicial inquiry to investigate allegations that national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka was an apartheid spy, and whether he may have abused his position as a result.

But there has since been calls from the opposition for the ANC to publish the names of all ANC leaders who allegedly spied for apartheid intelligence agencies.

With acknowledgements to Mpumelelo Mkhabela and the City Press.