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| Brazil's Rousseff denies claims of obstruction of justice | Brazil's Rousseff denies claims of obstruction of justice |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff says accusations that she tried to block a major corruption investigation into state-owned oil company Petrobras are "false and irresponsible". | Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff says accusations that she tried to block a major corruption investigation into state-owned oil company Petrobras are "false and irresponsible". |
| On Tuesday, Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation against Ms Rousseff for obstruction of justice. | On Tuesday, Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation against Ms Rousseff for obstruction of justice. |
| Mr Janot also accused the former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, of involvement in the scandal. | Mr Janot also accused the former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, of involvement in the scandal. |
| Lula has denied any wrongdoing. | Lula has denied any wrongdoing. |
| The allegations were based on evidence given by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, who as part of a plea bargain agreed to testify against other suspects after being arrested last year. | The allegations were based on evidence given by Senator Delcidio do Amaral, who as part of a plea bargain agreed to testify against other suspects after being arrested last year. |
| President Rousseff described Mr Amaral as a compulsive liar. | President Rousseff described Mr Amaral as a compulsive liar. |
| "The accusations made by Senator Delcidio do Amaral are absolutely irresponsible and above all false," Ms Rousseff told journalists in Brasilia. | "The accusations made by Senator Delcidio do Amaral are absolutely irresponsible and above all false," Ms Rousseff told journalists in Brasilia. |
| "He has lied repeatedly since his arrest. He first accused Supreme Court judges. Then he reneged on those comments and he is now accusing me. I believe the Senator's credibility is rather precarious," she said. | |
| The allegations come as Ms Rousseff is already under immense political pressure. | The allegations come as Ms Rousseff is already under immense political pressure. |
| Senators are expected to vote next week on whether to start an impeachment trial against her over separate allegations. | Senators are expected to vote next week on whether to start an impeachment trial against her over separate allegations. |
| She is accused of illegally manipulating the federal budget ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies. | She is accused of illegally manipulating the federal budget ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies. |
| If the Senate votes in favour of the trial going ahead, Mr Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days. | If the Senate votes in favour of the trial going ahead, Mr Rousseff will be suspended for 180 days. |
| Allegations against Lula | Allegations against Lula |
| Mr Janot also asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation into Lula for alleged corruption, accusing the former president of playing a key role in the Petrobras scheme. | Mr Janot also asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation into Lula for alleged corruption, accusing the former president of playing a key role in the Petrobras scheme. |
| He said the corruption could not have taken place without the participation of the former leader, who served as Brazilian president between 2003 and 2011. | He said the corruption could not have taken place without the participation of the former leader, who served as Brazilian president between 2003 and 2011. |
| He requested authorisation to investigate Lula and 29 other senior politicians, officials and businessmen. | He requested authorisation to investigate Lula and 29 other senior politicians, officials and businessmen. |
| Prosecutors say the corruption scheme is estimated to have cost the company more than $2bn (£1.45bn). | Prosecutors say the corruption scheme is estimated to have cost the company more than $2bn (£1.45bn). |
| Part of the money, they say, was used to finance the electoral campaign of top Brazilian politicians. | Part of the money, they say, was used to finance the electoral campaign of top Brazilian politicians. |
| Several politicians, Petrobras executives and businessmen have been arrested and sentenced as part of the two-year investigation. | Several politicians, Petrobras executives and businessmen have been arrested and sentenced as part of the two-year investigation. |
| Ms Rousseff served as the head of Petrobras for much of the period when the corruption took place, but she has not been implicated in the scandals. | Ms Rousseff served as the head of Petrobras for much of the period when the corruption took place, but she has not been implicated in the scandals. |