Brazil's Dilma Rousseff testifies at impeachment trial

Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stood in Brazil’s Senate on Monday in an impeachment trial. She is accused of illegally manipulating the budget to hide a growing deficit, having denied the allegations and calling the impeachment proceedings a "coup d'etat".

Senators are due to vote this week on whether to remove Rousseff from office for good or whether to reinstate her.

On arriving at the Senate building in Brasilia shortly after 1:00pm CET accompanied by her mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rousseff greeted supporters before entering the Senate smiling.

A group of about 200 people had reportedly gathered outside the building chanting: "Come back Dilma!"

Rousseff was given 30 minutes to speak and began her defence by reminding Senators that she had been re-elected by more than 54 million voters. She also reminded them of her past as a resistance fighter who opposed military rule. She said that her fight was for a more equal society and that that the achievements of her government in that field were now "at risk", adding that she was determined to continue her fight against the attacks against her, which she said amounted to a "coup".

The suspended President has said in the past that the impeachment proceedings are a manoeuvre by her political rivals to end the 13-year power streak of her left-wing Workers Party.

Roussef said she had always honoured and upheld the country's Constitution.

She argued that moving money from the state bank to fill budget holes is not an impeachable offence and was also done by her predecessors in office.

Rousseff said she had been "unjustly accused" of crimes she said she had not committed.

"I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," she said, adding that "I can't help but taste the bitterness of injustice."

After her speech, various senators are expected to step forward to confront her with direct questions.

The impeachment vote is scheduled for Tuesday but analysts reportedly said it could push over into Wednesday.

For her to be removed from the presidency permanently, 54 of the 81 senators would have to vote for her impeachment.

Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo is cited by the BBC as claiming that it has spoken to all the senators ahead of the vote and that 52 have so far declared themselves in favour of the impeachment. Eighteen told the newspaper they were opposed to the impeachment and 11 either did not say which way they would vote or were undecided.

If Rousseff is impeached, acting President Michel Temer will serve out her term until it ends in December 2018.