Brazil driver strikes presidential palace gate

Security forces in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, were on high alert on Wednesday evening after a driver rammed through a gate at the presidential palace.

A statement released by the president's office said a vehicle had been driven at high speed toward the Alvorada Palace at about 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Guards initially fired warning shots, but, when the car failed to stop, they fired directly. The drive was not wounded and was detained by police.

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President Michel Temer was not present at the time. Temer, in fact, was staying in another official residence less than a mile from the Alvorada.

Images subsequently showed the presidential residence gate had been knocked down, with bullet shells on the ground. The area was sealed off after the incident.

Last week, the polling form Datafolha showed that Temer had the lowest rating of any president in almost 30 years. On Monday, Temer was charged by prosecutor-general Rodrigo Janot for allegedly  taking bribes from JBS, the world's largest meat-packing company. The president denies the allegations.

Janot has made a name for himself at the sharp end of Brazil's gigantic anti-corruption investigation codenamed "Car Wash," which has revealed systemic embezzlement by officials from state-owned Petrobras oil company.

Temer came to power last year after he helped to get his former political ally, Dilma Rousseff, impeached. He, along with a third of his cabinet, are facing charges or under investigation for corruption.

rc/gsw (AFP, Reuters)