Head of Brazil’s intelligence agency removed

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‘Brazil’s president on Monday suspended the head of the nation’s intelligence service amid a scandal over wiretaps on the phones of top officials, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court,’ the Associated Press reports.

‘A statement from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s office said Paulo Lacerda was temporarily removed from his post while an investigation takes place.’

‘The scandal broke this weekend after the Brazilian news magazine Veja reported the head of Brazil’s Supreme Court, members of Congress and officials close to Silva — including his chief of staff and at least one Cabinet official — all had their phones bugged by the intelligence agency.’

‘The fast-developing scandal is the latest to hit Silva’s six-year-old administration, which began with bold promises to clean up government.’

‘Opposition leaders called for a congressional investigation, and some even said Silva could be impeached. They said even if the president knew nothing about the wiretapping, the incident indicates that the intelligence agency does not obey his command.’

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