Updated 3.15 p.m.

The government said this afternoon that security clearance for the AFM's top officials was issued in August 2013 and in the case of Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi in 2008.

The government was reacting to comments by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami, who accused national security Minister Manuel Mallia of 'lying' when he said that the AFM  commander and his deputy had the necessary security clearance.

Dr Fenech Adami said it resulted from Security Service documents published in the media that the security clearance was only requested in February when the promotions were given in December.

He and PN Home Affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi said this proved that Dr Mallia had once again been caught lying and should shoulder his responsibilities. Dr Mallia said last September that all the necessary security clearance for the promoted officers had been given.

But the ministry said this afternoon that it was under a Nationalist government in 2007 that promotions were given en masse to  colonels whose security clearance was top secret for years.

The PN's press conference, the ministry said, was a lie from beginning to end.