Brazil's Rousseff likens impeachment drive to failed Turkish coup

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff on Saturday said the drive to impeach her was akin to Friday's failed military coup attempt in Turkey.

Both were attacks on democracy, she said.

"The attempted coup in Turkey is cause for concern. An elected government cannot be toppled by violence or legal tricks," Rousseff posted on Facebook.

Brazil's Senate voted to suspend Rousseff on May 12, pending an impeachment trial in August on charges of allegedly manipulating public-sector accounts.

She denies any wrongdoing, saying her impeachment was politically motivated by the right-wing opposition.

If two thirds of the 81 senators find her guilty, Rousseff will be stripped of the presidency, which is currently being held by her vice president, Michel Temer. Temer would then see through her term until Jan. 1, 2019.

"The impeachment should be repudiated in Brazil. Democracy means protecting the will of the people," said Rousseff.

On Friday, part of Turkey's army launched a failed coup to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leading to at least 161 deaths and the arrest of 2,839 members of the military.

In the wake of the coup, Brazil's interim government issued a communique urging all sides to refrain from violence and calling for "full respect for institutions and constitutional order" in Turkey. Endi