High-ranking Brazilian officials summoned for alleged wiretapping

Three Brazilian high-ranking officials were summoned Wednesday by the Committee of Inquiry on wiretapping charges, local media reported.

The three officials are Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, Federal Police Director Luiz Fernando Correa and Director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency Paulo Lacerda.

News magazine Veja has reported recently that telephones of federal judges, ministers and congressmen were bugged by the Brazilian Intelligence Agency.

The magazine has published part of the conversation taped in mid-July between Supreme Federal Court President Gilmar Mendes and opposition senator Demostenes Torres from Democrat Party.

It also disclosed that Chief of Staff Dilma Rousseff and Institutional Relations Secretary Jose Mucio Monteiro were also wiretapped.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday ordered Federal Police to investigate the cases.