- 11 minutes ago
- From the section Latin America & Caribbean
Image copyright AFP/Reuters
Brazil's lower house of Congress is voting on whether to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over charges of manipulating government accounts for political gains.
The vote comes after party leaders addressed the chamber with their views. Some MPs tried to disrupt the session as it got under way. Several thousand rival protesters are gathered outside the Congress building.
Ms Rousseff, 68, denies the charge and accuses opponents of mounting a "coup".
A two-thirds majority - 342 out of 513 votes - is needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate, which will consider the allegations of unlawful activity against her.
Impeachment vote: Live updates
The result of the lower house vote may not be known for a while, as each MP is being given the opportunity to explain the decision they have made - as their vote is flashed up on screen.
Voting began after lengthy statements from MPs and party leaders in a session that is being broadcast live on television as well as on large screens in city centres.
Defending Ms Rousseff, Afonso Florence, of her governing Workers' Party, urged MPs to have a "democratic conscience", and attacked her opponents who are facing their own charges of corruption.
Pro-impeachment MP, Antonio Imbassahy of the PSDB party, told lawmakers to "choose the country that we want from now on", and said Brazil needed "moral reconstruction."
Read more on Brazil's political crisis:
- Could Rousseff be impeached?
- Where did it all go wrong for Rousseff?
- A critical month ahead
- What has gone wrong in Brazil?
- Rousseff faces a perfect storm
A 2m (6.5ft) high wall, stretching 1km (0.6 miles), has been built along the esplanade in front of Congress to separate the rival supporters who gathered in Brasilia.
Reports say the atmosphere has so far been peaceful; almost festive with music, fancy dress and people blowing trumpets and vuvuzuelas.
Image copyright AFP 
Image copyright AP The president has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, and on Saturday wrote in one newspaper her opponents "want to convict an innocent woman and save the corrupt".
The BBC's Wyre Davis in Brazil says Ms Rousseff is an unpopular leader in a country facing a severe economic crisis.
She is accused of juggling the accounts to make her government's economic performance appear better than it was, ahead of her election campaign two years ago - charges she vigorously denies.
Image copyright EPA If she is impeached, Vice-President Michel Temer would take over as interim president, but he is also facing impeachment proceedings over the same allegations as Ms Rousseff.
Ms Rousseff accused him this week of being one of the ringleaders of the "coup" attempt against her.
She has also indicated lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha - who would be second in line to replace her - is among those trying to oust her. He is being investigated over allegations of taking multi-million-dollar bribes.
Next in line to replace her is Renan Calheiros, head of the Senate. But he, too, is under investigation in connection with a massive corruption scandal at state-oil company Petrobras.
All three are from the PMDB - the largest party in the coalition, which abandoned Ms Rousseff in recent weeks to support the impeachment. They deny the allegations against them.
Rousseff under pressure
The Brazilian president faces a battle to stay in power
- 513 members of the lower house of Congress
- 342 votes needed to move process to the Senate
- 41 senators out of 81 must vote in favour to begin impeachment trial
- 180 days she could be suspended for during the hearings
Reuters
What happens next?
Lower house vote: An impeachment vote is due in the lower house on Sunday. A two-thirds majority is required for it to go forward to the Senate.Senate vote on trial: If Ms Rousseff case is sent to the Senate, a simple majority is enough to suspend her for up to 180 days while she is put on trial. Vice-President Michel Temer would step in during this period.
Impeachment vote: For Ms Rousseff to be removed from office permanently, two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote in favour. Mr Temer would remain president for an interim period should this happen.
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