Brazilian police detain local Google president Published duration 27 September 2012

image caption Fabio Coelho was briefly detained for disobeying a Brazilian judge's order

Police have briefly detained the president of Google Brazil, Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, over the company's refusal to take down YouTube videos.

A regional judge had ruled that the videos slandered a candidate running for mayor next month.

Google says it has no responsibility for the content of videos posted on its site.

Mr Coelho was released after speaking to detectives in the city of Sao Paulo, Google confirmed.

Police had already made it clear that Mr Coelho would not remain in custody because the offence of which he is accused has "low potential to offend".

Federal police in Sao Paulo had said that Mr Coelho would be released after signing a document agreeing to appear before the authorities when summoned.

According to Brazilian media, the videos in question suggest Alcides Bernal - a mayoral candidate in the western city of Campo Grande - is guilty of committing crimes.

Judge Flavio Peren, who sits at a regional electoral court in Mato Grosso do Sul state, ruled the videos violated local election laws.

His order for the videos to be removed was ignored and on Monday he ordered Mr Coelho's arrest.