Collor may block impeachment

(First Edition)

BRASILIA (Reuter) - The speaker of the Brazilian congress' lower house, Ibsen Pinheiro, said yesterday that an impeachment request against President Fernando Collor de Mello was almost inevitable.

But Mr Pinheiro, of the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, said it would be 'almost impossible' to force Mr Collor from office, as the President had the votes necessary to block an impeachment proposal, which needs approval by two thirds of the lower house.