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Brazil president warns against violence in planned rallies

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff delivers a speech during a ceremony at Planalto Palace in the capital, Brasília, March 9, 2015. (© AFP)

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has warned that she will not tolerate violence as the Latin American country braces for a new wave of protests over a high-profile oil company scandal.

“The fact that Brazil is developing and guarantees the right to demonstrate is something we all value. But what we cannot accept is violence,” Rousseff said on Monday.

Rousseff’s opponents have announced plans on social media for a series of protest rallies in dozens of cities against her rule.

The widening corruption probe into the state-run oil giant Petrobras and dozens of senior politicians has rattled the Rousseff administration for months.

On Friday, Brazil’s Supreme Court released the names of a number of politicians, mainly the allies of Rousseff’s ruling coalition, over the massive corruption scandal surrounding Petrobras, which is estimated to have funneled some USD 3.8 billion to politicians.

Unions and pro-government groups will arrange their own rallies “to defend democracy, social gains, Petrobras and workers’ rights,” according to Rousseff’s Workers’ Party (PT) website.

Rousseff, who served as the head of Petrobras before taking office as president in 2010, faces criticism for failing to take action against corruption at the oil company during her tenure and later as the Brazilian leader.

She has denied any knowledge of the multi-billion-dollar bribery and kickback scheme, and backed the ongoing Petrobras probe.

In December last year, prosecutors charged executives from several Brazilian construction firms with allegations that contractors colluded in tenders, and bribed the officials of the Brazilian oil producer.

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