Confusion remained yesterday over the suspension of National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli even after the Union Buildings had summoned opposition leaders and heads of security to an urgent briefing.

One opposition MP said they left the Rev Frank Chikane's briefing with more questions than answers over the shock suspension by President Thabo Mbeki.

Adding to the confusion is claims that National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi may be investigated over allegations of ties to organised crime.

This would lead to him facing the axe as well, according to the sources.

But government spokesperson Themba Maseko said yesterday it was up to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) acting director Mokotedi Mpshe to decide whether to press charges against Selebi.

"At this moment there is no investigation on Selebi, but I know that the Directorate of Special Operations has been doing some investigations. The new director will decide on whether or not to prosecute," he said.

Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said he would not comment on "rumour-mongering", while Selebi's spokesperson Director Sally de Beer also declined to comment.

Chikane said government had decided to brief political parties represented in parliament on the matter because it was "serious enough".

Chikane said once an inquiry had been completed, Mbeki would make a decision.

If he decided to remove Pikoli from office, Mbeki would have to inform parliament about the matter within 14 days of his decision.

However, parliament would then have the final say.

Pikoli had yet to publicly respond to his suspension.

MPs who attended the Union Building briefing expressed frustration that government had not taken them into its confidence.

They said they had sat through the session without getting any new information.

IFP MP Koos van der Merwe said: "All is not well ... there is something I can't identify which makes me nervous."

Cheryllyn Dudley, of the ACDP, said there was "a lot of effort to tell us nothing".

Themba Godi, of the African People's Convention (APC), said he was pleased that government had decided on such a "courtesy meeting", but it had yielded nothing new. Freedom Front Plus MP Willie Spies said: "We have left with more questions than answers."

Senior prosecutors and NPA staff have reacted with disbelief and shock to a government statement in which Pikoli's suspension was blamed on his poor working relationship with Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla.

Now the NPA wants the chance to give its side of the story.

A "concise" statement compiled by senior prosecuting management is due to be released this morning.

Meanwhile, sources within the prosecuting body say it was Pikoli's refusal to back down on several high-profile investigations - linked to Selebi, as well as the controversial arms deal - that saw him facing the axe.

Commenting on the suspension, political analyst Adam Habib said Pikoli could be seen as another victim of a witch hunt.

"We have seen this happening in intelligence - NIA director-general Billy Masetlha was the first to be fired by Mbeki, but he is challenging his dismissal in court. And we have seen this happening in various provincial departments.

"People are going to be very concerned that this is a witch hunt happening in the state apparatus," Habib said yesterday.

After the MPs' meeting, government's top security chiefs were summoned to an urgent meeting to discuss the "implications of the situation".

The meeting of the national security council at the Union Buildings came shortly after the meeting with opposition MPs.

Chikane said: "We've got crime in this country.

"We need to deal with crime and we don't want any dysfunctional ways in which people don't operate according to the law."

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Pretoria News.