1000s rally in Brazil to demand president’s impeachment

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Brazil to call for the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing impeachment.

The rallies were staged on Sunday in nearly 40 cities, including the capital, Brasilia, and the South American country’s wealthy industrial and financial hub Sao Paulo where about 30,000 reportedly participated in the protest.

Brazilian media said around 81,000 had taken to the streets across the country while the organizers of the protest put the nationwide turnout at 385,000.

Rousseff stands accused of violating budget laws to push up spending during her 2014 re-election campaign. Impeachment proceedings against her were opened on December 2 by Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. However, she denies the allegations and terms attempts to bring her government down a “coup.”