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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)
Brazil's lower house of Congress is preparing to vote on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over charges of manipulating government accounts for political gains.Brazil's lower house of Congress is preparing to vote on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over charges of manipulating government accounts for political gains.
Party leaders are addressing the chamber ahead of the vote.Party leaders are addressing the chamber ahead of the vote.
Some MPs tried to disrupt the session as it got under way. Several thousand rival protesters are gathered outside the Congress building.Some MPs tried to disrupt the session as it got under way. Several thousand rival protesters are gathered outside the Congress building.
Ms Rousseff denies the charge and accuses opponents of mounting a "coup".Ms Rousseff denies the charge and accuses opponents of mounting a "coup".
She has been lobbying MPs amid indications there may be enough votes for the impeachment motion to carry. A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - is 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.
Impeachment vote: Live updatesImpeachment 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. Voting is due to start after statements from MPs and party leaders - the whole session, which is expected to last several hours, is being broadcast live on television as well as on large screens in city centres.
The debate on impeachment began on Friday, and the voting session started around 17:00 GMT. Deputies will vote one by one in a televised session which is expected to last several hours. Defending Ms Rousseff, Afonso Florence, of her governing Workers' Party, urged MPs to have a "democratic conscience", and attacked her opponents who are facing their own charges of corruption.
Pro-impeachment MP, Antonio Imbassahy of the PSDB party, told lawmakers to "choose the country that we want from now on", and said Brazil needed "moral reconstruction."
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 session got under way.Hundreds of thousands of protesters were gathering in cities across the country as the session 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, with TV screens on either side.
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. Brazil's three main newspapers predict a narrow vote in favour of impeaching Ms Rousseff.
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". The president has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, and on Saturday wrote in one newspaper her opponents "want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt".
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." The BBC's Wyre Davis in Brazil says 68-year-old Ms Rousseff is an unpopular leader in a country facing a severe economic crisis.
She later cancelled a planned appearance at a rally to contact MPs and political leaders. She is accused of juggling the accounts to make her government's economic performance appear better than it was, ahead of her election campaign two years ago - charges she vigorously denies.
A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, have already abandoned her to support the impeachment. But her supporters say many of the congressmen who are sitting in judgement have been accused of far more serious crimes, including corruption and embezzlement.
Ms Rousseff, 68, has accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her. A number of coalition parties, including the biggest, the PMDB, abandoned her to support the impeachment in recent weeks.
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 accused her Vice-President, Michel Temer, of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her.
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. She 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.