Brazilian lawyers push for Dilma Rousseff's impeachment

The Brazilian bar association piled more pressure on President Dilma Rousseff, saying it will file a new request on Monday to Congress for her impeachment, in a political crisis that threatens to topple her government.

Lawmakers have launched a congressional committee charged with deciding whether to bring a motion to impeach Rousseff over corruption allegations.

"Impeachment is enshrined in our constitution as a legal remedy for our democracy," bar association president Claudio Lamachia told the O Globo newspaper, adding that Monday's action was endorsed almost unanimously by the bar as a defender of democracy.

It was not a political decision, Lamachia added.

Rousseff last week condemned the "fascist methods" of opponents seeking her ouster and said the roiling crisis would leave a "scar" if not resolved democratically.

The leftist leader ruled out stepping down, despite mass protests and the impeachment proceedings in Congress.