President Thabo Mbeki has assured religious leaders there was no corruption in the procurement process relating to the multibillion-rand arms deal and that allegations that Deputy President Jacob Zuma was involved in bribery, were unfounded.

"The message was that the government is not involved in any corruption," said Religious Leaders Forum chairperson Ashwin Trikamjee after a meeting of the leaders' working group at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Trikamjee said Mbeki was particularly referring to the allegations that Zuma attempted to secure a bribe from a bidder for the multibillion-rand arms procurement deal.

Mbeki told them there were four ministers and himself, as deputy president at the time, who assessed the bids and awarded contracts.

However, the comments by the president are not likely to influence the process initiated by parliament's joint ethics committee this week to investigate claims that Zuma failed to declare certain business interests and sought payment for services in contravention of a code of conduct for cabinet ministers.

At Tuesday's press conference, Trikamjee did most of the talking. He was flanked by the director-general in the presidency, Frank Chikane, who nodded occasionally, whispered to him and made few additions.

Mbeki has before claimed there was no corruption in primary contracts relating to the arms deal and that the Scorpions were investigating suspected problems with secondary contracts. Tuesday he seemed to go further than before in trying to remove the cloud of suspicion hanging over Zuma.

Trikamjee said Mbeki had indicated there was some reference made in correspondence without the knowledge of the deputy president. He did not elaborate, but the remarks appeared to suggest the alleged bribe referred to in a fax might have been solicited in Zuma's name without his knowledge.

Trikamjee said the religious leaders were very satisfied and extremely grateful to the president for having taken them into his confidence.

"He (Mbeki) made it clear to the religious leaders, having taken us through all the facts, that he could give us the assurance that, as far as he is concerned, and as far as the government is concerned, there is absolutely no corruption whatsoever in this whole process."

"Little bits of information are being highlighted, magnified and taken advantage of by some of the people who lost out in the arms deal, and others who have an axe to grind against some ministers," Trikamjee said.

With acknowledgements to Charles Phahlane and The Star.