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| Brazil Rousseff: MPs set for knife-edge impeachment vote | Brazil Rousseff: MPs set for knife-edge impeachment vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A session has begun in Brazil's lower house of Congress on whether to back impeachment against President Dilma Rousseff over charges of fiddling government accounts. | A session has begun in Brazil's lower house of Congress on whether to back impeachment against President Dilma Rousseff over charges of fiddling government accounts. |
| As it got under way, several pro-Rousseff MPs disrupted proceedings by shouting 'There won't be a coup'. | |
| Security has been stepped up outside the building in Brasilia as several thousand rival protesters gathered. | Security has been stepped up outside the building in Brasilia as several thousand rival protesters gathered. |
| Ms Rousseff has accused her political opponents of mounting a "coup". | Ms Rousseff has accused her political opponents of mounting a "coup". |
| She has been lobbying MPs amid indications there may be enough votes for the impeachment motion to carry. | She has been lobbying MPs amid indications there may be enough votes for the impeachment motion to carry. |
| Brazil impeachment vote: Live updates | Brazil impeachment vote: Live updates |
| A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - are needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate, where a simple majority would be enough to suspend Ms Rousseff from office for up to 180 days during an impeachment trial. | A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - are needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate, where a simple majority would be enough to suspend Ms Rousseff from office for up to 180 days during an impeachment trial. |
| The debate on impeachment began on Friday, and the voting session started around 17:00GMT (18:00BST). Deputies will vote one by one in a televised session which is expected to last several hours. | The debate on impeachment began on Friday, and the voting session started around 17:00GMT (18:00BST). Deputies will vote one by one in a televised session which is expected to last several hours. |
| Read more on Brazil's political crisis: | Read more on Brazil's political crisis: |
| Hundreds of thousands of protesters were gathering in cities across the country as the vote got under way. | Hundreds of thousands of protesters were gathering in cities across the country as the vote got under way. |
| A 2m (6.5ft) high wall, stretching 1km (0.6 miles), has been built along the esplanade in front of congress to separate the rival supporters. Television screens have been erected on both sides so they can follow events. | A 2m (6.5ft) high wall, stretching 1km (0.6 miles), has been built along the esplanade in front of congress to separate the rival supporters. Television screens have been erected on both sides so they can follow events. |
| On Saturday, the president wrote in the Folha de Sao Paulo, (in Portuguese): "They want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt," a reference to charges several politicians face. | On Saturday, the president wrote in the Folha de Sao Paulo, (in Portuguese): "They want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt," a reference to charges several politicians face. |
| She accused her opponents of "fraud and lies in an attempt to dismiss a legitimately elected government and replace it with a government without legitimacy". | She accused her opponents of "fraud and lies in an attempt to dismiss a legitimately elected government and replace it with a government without legitimacy". |
| Denying she had committed any crime, she said: "This is a coup against the republic, against democracy and above all against the votes of all Brazilians who participated in the electoral process." | Denying she had committed any crime, she said: "This is a coup against the republic, against democracy and above all against the votes of all Brazilians who participated in the electoral process." |
| She later cancelled a planned appearance at a rally to contact MPs and political leaders. | She later cancelled a planned appearance at a rally to contact MPs and political leaders. |
| A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, have already abandoned her to support the impeachment. | A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, have already abandoned her to support the impeachment. |
| Ms Rousseff, 68, has accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her. | Ms Rousseff, 68, has accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her. |
| She said a widely distributed audio message of Mr Temer appearing to accept replacing her as president was evidence of the conspiracy. However, she did not identify him by name. | She said a widely distributed audio message of Mr Temer appearing to accept replacing her as president was evidence of the conspiracy. However, she did not identify him by name. |
| Ms Rousseff has also indicated lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha is among those trying to oust her. He is himself facing money-laundering and other charges. | Ms Rousseff has also indicated lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha is among those trying to oust her. He is himself facing money-laundering and other charges. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| Lower house vote: An impeachment vote is due in the lower house on Sunday. A two-thirds majority is required for it to go forward to the Senate. | Lower house vote: An impeachment vote is due in the lower house on Sunday. A two-thirds majority is required for it to go forward to the Senate. |
| Senate vote on trial: If Ms Rousseff case is sent to the Senate, a simple majority is enough to suspend her for up to 180 days while she is put on trial. Vice-President Michel Temer would step in during this period. | Senate vote on trial: If Ms Rousseff case is sent to the Senate, a simple majority is enough to suspend her for up to 180 days while she is put on trial. Vice-President Michel Temer would step in during this period. |
| Impeachment vote: For Ms Rousseff to be removed from office permanently, two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favour. Mr Temer would remain president for an interim period should this happen. | Impeachment vote: For Ms Rousseff to be removed from office permanently, two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favour. Mr Temer would remain president for an interim period should this happen. |