September 1, 2008 Top Brazilian official suspended for wiretap scandal

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - Brazil's president is suspending the head of the nation's intelligence service in a scandal over wiretaps of top officials.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's office announced Monday in a news release that the suspension was taken to ensure full disclosure in a coming investigation.

The statement says intelligence chief Paulo Lacerda has been removed pending an investigation into wiretaps allegedly placed on the phones of several top officials.

The news magazine Veja first reported that phones were bugged to eavesdrop on the head of the nation's Supreme Court, members of Congress and officials close to Silva.

It is not clear if Lacerda would be the only intelligence official removed.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)