Brazil: Lawmakers call for mass arrests

BRASILIA, Brazil, June 9 (UPI) -- Brazilian lawmakers called for 79 people -- including fellow politicians, business and civil servants -- to face criminal charges.

Among those named is former Finance Minister Antonio Palocci, who was accused stealing taxpayer money while he was a major of a small town in Sao Paulo state, Folha de Sao Paulo reported Friday.

Palocci -- who has already been charged by authorities -- has denied the allegation.

For the last year, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been embroiled in his own corruption scandal. His party is accused of bribing lawmakers to vote for key reforms in the Congress.