Thousands protest against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in protests across Brazil calling for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Support for Rousseff, who is less than a year into her second term as president, has fallen to single-digit figures in recent polls and many voters have accused her of failing to stamp out corruption, while blaming her for the economy's worst slump in 25 years.

International media report that marchers took over Copacabana beach in Rio and also demonstrated outside congress in the capital Brasilia.

Many wore the yellow shirts of the Brazilian football team, and sang the national anthem, carrying banners saying "Dilma Out", the BBC adds.

Police said that some 137,000 people took part, but tens of the thousands of others were also involved in a demonstration in Sao Paulo.

The BBC adds that the national day of action is the third major protest against Rousseff and her left-wing Workers' Part this year, with hundreds of thousands taking part in demonstrations in March and April.

"We want things to change and if the people don't go in the street that's impossible," said retired engineer Elino Alves de Moraes, who joined the march in Brasilia.

According to reports, there have also been demonstrations in support of Roussef, with many claiming calls for her impeachment amount to a coup attempt. However, anti-government protesters say Rouseff must have known about a corruption scandal in the state oil firm, Petrobras, as alleged bribery took place when she was head of the company.

She was, however, exonerated in an investigation by the attorney general and denies involvement, but several senior members of her government have been implicated nonetheless.

Government austerity measures are also hugely unpopular with the electorate, correspondents say, as are rising unemployment and inflation rates.