The Brazilian parliament on Wednesday published a report on corruption in the government of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, accusing 200 officials and politicians of committing various forms of fraud.

The report, compiled by deputy Oscar Serraglio, secretary of the parliament's investigation commission, says that officials used illegal funds in election campaigns and bought opposition votes.

Among the accused are Jose Dirceau, former cabinet chief; Luis Gushiken, former minister of communication and some executive members of the Workers Party (PT)founded by Lula in 1980.

The investigation began in the state post office and gradually expanded to many departments of the administration.

The report calls for prosecuting a number of figures including Jose Genoino, former PT president; Delubio Soares, former PT treasurer; Silvio Pereira, former PT secretary general.

Other figures include Eduardo "Duda" Mendonca, leader of Lula's election campaign; Marcos Valerio Fernandes, co-chief of financing for the PT, whose companies have since benefited from state contracts.

Dozens of deputies were bribed to vote for the government during the first two years of Lula's rule, said the report, which does not hold the president personally responsible.

The document says that the corruption network operated from January 1997 to August 2005 and handled about 2 billion reals (910 million U.S. dollars).

Brazil's finance minister, Antonio Palocci, resigned on Monday after he was accused in a separate corruption investigation.

Source: Xinhua