Brazilian president rejects corruption allegations
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday the wave of corruption charges against his government was part of the atmosphere surrounding the country's forthcoming election campaign.

"What president would withstand the kind of hammering that I have been suffering since June?" Lula told Brazilian broadcasters, adding that the opposition was attempting to keep the ruling Workers' Party (PT) from being re-elected.

Brazil's elections are slated for Oct. 1 next year.

Lula also said he would not fire Finance Minister Antonio Palocci, the architect of Brazil's economic policy and a favorite with foreign investors.

Palocci has been under attack from within the ruling Workers' Party (PT) for being "too right-wing," and from the opposition form isuse of public funds.

Lula said his party had been determined to fight corruption, reminding citizens that 500 government officials and police officers had been fired over corruption allegations during his administration.

The Workers' Party has been dogged over the past six months by a scandal amid accusations that it paid allied lawmakers bribes in exchange for their support on key votes in Congress and engaged illegal campaign financing practices.

Lula said he would seek re-election "if the moment was right," but added he had other things on his mind.

"I am not worrying about that. I don't think about it when I am going to sleep, and I don't think about it when I wake up," he said.

Lula said he was concerned with improving conditions in Brazil, especially the social conditions.

A recent poll showed that Lula's popularity fell to the point where Sao Paulo Mayor Jose Serra, of Brazilian Social-Democrat party (PSDB), would win an election if it were held this week.