BRAZIL: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has suspended the entire leadership of Brazil's intelligence agency after it was accused of spying on the head of the supreme court and members of congress.
The presidential office said in a statement that the president had decided to suspend the top officials until an investigation into the allegations was complete.
Opposition leaders had earlier demanded an inquiry into a magazine report about the spying, the latest government scandal.
The government said that the alleged spying was "abominable" and could sour the president's relations with congress and the judiciary.
Veja, the country's leading news magazine, reported at the weekend that the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, or Abin, spied on supreme court president Gilmar Mendes and tapped his telephones. It published what it said was a transcript of a private telephone conversation Mr Mendes had with a member of congress.
An Abin agent who provided the transcript said such illegal phone-tapping of authorities was common and also included the head of the senate and two cabinet members, Veja reported.
The president held urgent talks with Mendes, the senate speaker and several congress members who expressed their concern and demanded that those responsible to be punished. - (Reuters)