World IN BRIEF : BRAZIL : Beleaguered Collor Apologizes on TV

President Fernando Collor de Mello went on television to apologize for the uproar caused by his brother’s charges that Collor has taken kickbacks and used drugs. Pedro Collor alleged in a magazine interview that his brother had orchestrated millions of dollars in illegal political contributions and kickbacks from companies receiving government contracts. And he said the president is a “frequent user of cocaine.” The president called both charges lies. The affair has dominated the nation’s attention and embarrassed Collor in the days leading up to the June 3-14 environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro.