Brazilian president denounces opposition over corruption claims
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that opposition charges against his Workers Party over corruption are politically motivated.

"There are people who are uncomfortable," Lula told farmers in central-west Goias state, accusing the opposition politicians of exploiting denunciations for political gains.

The opposition is plotting to prevent him from re-election, said the visibly angry president, who seeks re-election next year.

"They don't know who they're dealing with. Corruption is not a game. You can't stain the name of people; you can't strip them bare in front of society, and later prove nothing," he added.

Lula, a former union leader who came to power pledging to end corruption, told the audience that no one has more moral authority than him to address the corruption issue.

The scandal, which has rocked the Brazilian government, erupted after Labor Party's ex-president Roberto Jefferson accused the ruling Workers Party of paying monthly "allowances" to lawmakers in exchange for their votes on government bills.

Cabinet chief Jose Direceu, a close aide to Lula who held the most important post in the cabinet, resigned this week but denied any wrongdoing in the scandal.