Brazilian President Accuses VP Of 'Treachery'

President Dilma Rousseff accuses her vice president of plotting a coup - as she edges closer to impeachment.

Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer talks with Dilma Rousseff

Embattled Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has called her vice president Michel Temer the "head of the conspiracy" that seeks to remove her from office.

Speaking to teachers and students at the Presidential Palace in Brasilia, Ms Rousseff said Mr Temer was plotting a coup and accused him of treachery. 

She said Mr Temer and Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha were working together to gather votes for her impeachment.

On Monday, the lower house left Ms Rousseff one step closer to impeachment after approving a report in favour of her removal.

Hours earlier, a 13-minute recording of Mr Temer rehearsing a post-impeachment speech was leaked.

Ms Rousseff said the audio shows Mr Temer has "arrogance and contempt for the people."

"The mask of the conspirators has fallen," she said.

"We are living in strange and worrying times, times of a coup and pretending and treachery.

"Yesterday it became clear that there are two leaders of the coup who work together in a premeditated way.

"They are coup plotters, without respect for democracy."

Ms Rousseff is facing impeachment over claims her administration violated fiscal rules to mask budget problems.

It is alleged the administration shifted around government accounts ahead of the president's 2014 re-election.

Opposition parties claim sleight-of-hand accounting moves allowed her to boost public spending to shore up votes.

Ms Rousseff has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.

Her opponents say the impeachment process is in line with the wishes of the majority of Brazilians.

But Ms Rousseff's supporters call it a blatant power grab by her foes.