President an 'average' drinker

2004-05-10 10:59

Sao Paulo, Brazil - A US newspaper report over the weekend alleging that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had a drinking problem was branded as "calumny and defamation" by a presidential spokesperson.

A lengthy article, headlined "Brazilian leader's tippling becomes national concern" in the Sunday edition of The New York Times, brought swift denunciations from the president's staff.

"We do not consider this article to be valid journalism," Marcia Ornelas said on Sunday. "It is a piece of calumny and defamation and shows a prejudice against the president."

Silva's chief of communications, Andre Singer, said on Sunday night that Brazil's ambassador to the United States, Roberto Abdenur, had been instructed "to transmit to the publication in question the indignation and surprise of the Brazilian government at the gratuitous insults aimed at the president".

Singer added that "the president's social habits are moderate and in line with those of average Brazilians".

The New York Times article noted that Silva is frequently seen in photographs and TV news clips with a glass of whiskey or rum in his hand.

Ornelas said a defamation suit against The New York Times was "a possibility", but added that no decision regarding such an action had been taken as of Sunday. She said top presidential aides were due to meet on Monday to discuss fallout from the article and a possible legal response.

The writer of the article, New York Times correspondent Larry Rohter, was travelling outside Brazil and was unavailable for comment on Sunday.

- AP