President Kgalema Motlanthe has not ruled out a judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal *1, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Friday.

Speaking outside the presidential guest house in Pretoria after meeting Motlanthe, Zille said she was encouraged by Motlanthe's thoughtfulness on the issues she raised.

These ranged from crime, a judicial inquiry into the arms deal *2 and a political solution to African National Congress President Jacob Zuma's legal matters.

"He certainly did not rule out any judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal *3 when I asked him specifically about that."

She said the president had told her he was waiting for the appeals on the Judge Chris Nicholson judgement regarding Zuma and the standing committee on public accounts to deal with the issue, and then he would "definitely look at it.

"So I'm encouraged by that thoughtfulness and that focus."

She said the institutions of constitutional independence from the ruling party also came up for discussion, and that Motlanthe had fully agreed and that he gave his sincere commitment that he would defend their independence.

On a political solution to Zuma's legal matters, Motlanthe also gave Zille the assurance that he was opposed to a political solution to a legal problem, and that he regarded no one as above the law *4.

"I put that question to him directly."

Zille reiterated that Zuma should not stand as a candidate for state president until the cloud over him had lifted.

"I do not think that a potential candidate who has been accused of taking 783 bribes over a period of 10 years, namely Mr Jacob Zuma, should be eligible as a presidential candidate until the cloud over his head has been lifted by due process of the law.

"That is why I believe it is completely untenable for him to be a candidate until such time," said Zille.

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With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Star.