Brazil justice minister quits in political clash
Brazil's popular justice minister has resigned from President Jair Bolsonaro's government, accusing him of political interference.
Sergio Moro, a former judge who oversaw the country's biggest anti-corruption probe, quit after the president fired the federal police chief.
Mr Moro said Mr Bolsonaro demanded someone who would provide him with direct intelligence.
In a public address, the far-right president called the claims "baseless".
"The appointment is mine, the prerogative is mine and your day I have to submit to some of my subordinates I cease to be president of the republic," Mr Bolsonaro said flanked by most of his cabinet in the presidential palace in Brasília.
But Brazil's public prosecutor Augusto Aras asked the Supreme Court to permit an investigation into Mr Moro's allegations against the president.
How did the political row escalate?
The dismissal of federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo was announced, without further details, in the official gazette on Friday.
On Thursday, Mr Moro had threatened to resign if Mr Valeixo - his ally - were dismissed, but said he'd stay if he were permitted to choose a replacement.
Earlier this month, the president sacked his Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta for his response to the coronavirus pandemic. The minister had advocated social distancing, which Mr Bolsonaro has scorned.
Fighting corruption was a central issue for Jair Bolsonaro in his 2018 presidential campaign.
But Mr Moro on Friday accused the president of meddling in federal police efforts to fight corruption.
The sound of pot-banging protests rang out in cities across Brazil after his resignation was announced.
