He referred to such allegations as "rumours" and said he did not like responding to rumours.

In an interview with Editor of the TV 'Prime News' programme, Mr. Adam Harris, the President denied that the Government is using its influence to take to court the July 3 illegal protesters, some of whom stormed the Office of the President.

Two of those who invaded the Office of the President complex were shot dead by security personnel.

"Our record is clear on that. We believe in the independence of the judiciary. I do not agree with many of the decisions, but I do not influence it", Mr. Jagdeo said.

He said that quite to the contrary, he feels that other considerations are used when handing down judgement, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

"People just commit the most atrocious acts and five minutes later they are on the streets again, because they go before some Magistrate or someone else and some of the most frivolous excuses are given as to why they cannot remand them or incarcerate them", he said.

The President pointed to the trend of justice for persons who are arrested after protests, as one example of probable external influence in the Courts, GINA said.

"So clearly, that will bail us out from the point of view of evidence, that it is not political interference from the Government. If there is political interference, it may be coming from some other quarter", he said.

Nineteen persons were arrested for storming the Presidential Complex on July 3. They were all released on bail and are to return to court later this month.

President Jagdeo said: "I do not like responding to rumours and in this country every day you have five or six new rumours surfacing. If I start wasting my time responding to rumours, then I would not run this country...