Lula suspends intelligence chief
Brazil’s president 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.
A statement from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s office said Paulo Lacerda was temporarily removed while an investigation takes place.
The scandal broke last weekend, after the Brazilian newsmagazine Veja reported that 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.
Veja published transcripts of what it said was a conversation between Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes and opposition Sen. Demostenes Torres.
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