Technicalities hold up SA arms inquiry

The deal has aroused criticism of President Mbeki

Public hearings in South Africa into a controversial $6bn arms deal have been postponed - after getting bogged down in legal argument as they got underway on Monday.

The two-week delay was agreed after the Ministry of Defence requested more time to prepare its evidence and local broadcasters asked for permission to televise the proceedings.

The government says the military needs modernising

The hearings are intended to look into allegations of fraud and corruption surrounding the deal which was signed a year and a half ago.

The BBC's Nick Childs says opinion on these hearings remains divided - supporters describe the inquiry as a genuine effort to provide background and critics dismiss it as a whitewash that could undermine and prejudice the three separate criminal investigations already underway.

Fraud allegations

The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa. Amongst the firms supplying weapons are Saab, BAE Systems and Thomson-CSF.

As part of the agreement, South Africa is supposed to receive inward investment of $13bn which the government says will create 65,000 jobs.

But opponents have accused senior officials of the governing African National Congress of corruption.

One of the charges centres on the alleged supply of luxury cars to senior officials. Among those in the spotlight is the ANC's chief whip, Tony Yengeni.

'Cover-up'

The government of President Thabo Mbeki has been accused of attempting a cover-up - among others by ruling out using the country's most effective investigation unit in the probes which have been set up.

And our correspondent says the government has appeared increasingly on the defensive.

The deal has become one of the most highly charged issues facing Mr Mbeki's administration and has provided ammunition for wider criticism of his leadership.

The ANC has consistently denied the allegations.

The government says the armed forces urgently need modernisation, but opponents say the country cannot afford it, and the money would be better spent elsewhere.