President Thabo Mbeki’s office said an investigation into the arms deal had already found no wrongdoing on the part of government, in its response to a media report that speculation over Mbeki’s involvement in the deal was "hotting up".

"Government has conducted an investigation on this matter and that investigation found no wrong doing on the part of government. That’s all I am going to say," said presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga.

This followed a report in The Citizen, based on an addendum to Mbeki’s online letter in his capacity as president of the African National Congress on Friday, November 16.

In this letter, 15 "challenges" were posed to journalist Chris McGreal, who authored a piece for the UK Guardian on claims made by former MP Andrew Feinstein in his book "After the Party".

According to a copy of the article on the Guardian Unlimited website, Feinstein claimed that Mbeki was involved in the ANC leadership’s blocking of a parliamentary investigation into alleged bribery by BAE Systems and other weapons firms in a massive arms deal and that a deal for fighter jets was sealed after an informal chat - and no bids on the table.

In the online letter, titled "What the Media Says: Lies Damn Lies", McGreal is repeatedly asked to substantiate claims in the article, published on November 13, and is promised "right of reply" on the website.

"Challenge # 9" refers to Feinstein’s claim that politicians decided in favour of British planes at an ’informal meeting’ attended by Mbeki, (the late former minister of Defence, Joe) Modise and at least one official since implicated in corruption in the deal.

The BAe bid was then presented to the cabinet for approval without any other bids on the table".

The ANC retorted, "The entirety of the assertions made in this passage is nothing more than a conglomeration of blatant lies. We challenge McGreal to ask his informant, Andrew Feinstein, to assist him by providing him with the single facts to substantiate the claims that McGreal chose to report approvingly."

Although the ANC had challenged the story, the presidency would not pursue it.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Times.