It is intolerable that President Thabo Mbeki was under a "perpetual cloud", although there is no concrete evidence implicating him in arms deal corruption or wrongdoing, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota says.

Lekota came to Mbeki's defence in parliament yesterday after Eddie Trent (DA) raised the question of meetings alleged to have been held by Mbeki, in December 1997, and Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, in February 1999, with representatives of a French arms firm.

Referring to renewed allegations and questions that had been raised about corruption in the arms deal, Lekota said the ANC remained open to a thorough investigation, "provided ... concrete evidence that can be cross-examined is then tabled".

He found it "absolutely unacceptable" that a critical instrument of national security, such as the SA National Defence Force, should be placed under a perpetual cloud "which evaporates every time you try to go into the matter".

Mbeki is on record as saying he does not recall attending a meeting in 1998 with representatives of French arms firm Thomson-CSF, now known as Thales, whose SA subsidiary, Thint, has been charged with corruption along with ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma.

In his member's statement, Trent told MPs: "The presidency was clearly deeply involved in a whole range of arms deal activities which were not formally documented or registered."

With acknowledgment to Angela Quintal and Cape Times.