Brazil lawmakers back impeaching Dilma Rousseff

A committee of Brazil’s lower house of Congress has voted 38-27 to recommend the impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff, who faces charges of breaking budget laws to support her re-election in 2014.

A vote in the full lower house is expected to take place on Sunday. If two thirds vote in favour, the impeachment will be sent to the Senate.

If the upper house decides by a simple majority to put Ms Rousseff on trial, she will immediately be suspended for up to six months while the Senate decides her fate, and vice-president Michel Temer will take office as acting president.