Rousseff will not attend Olympic ceremony in Rio de Janeiro Published duration 26 July 2016

image copyright AP image caption Suspended President Dilma Rousseff ignited the Olympic torch when it arrived in Brazil in May

The suspended Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff, says she will not attend the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics because she does not want to take a secondary position in the Maracana stadium.

A spokesman for the interim President, Michel Temer, said she would have been placed in the stand below him and not at his side.

Her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has also refused the invitation despite being instrumental in Rio's winning bid to host the games.

Both have said they are being politically persecuted by Mr Temer's party and allies.

Ms Rousseff faces possible removal from office if she loses an impeachment trial shortly after the games and Lula is facing corruption allegations, which he denies.

Another former President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, has also said he will not attend the ceremony.

Ms Rousseff has said that she believes she should be at the ceremony alongside Lula.

She told Radio France International on Monday that her government and Lula's had done most of the work to win the Olympics for Rio de Janeiro and find the financing to build the infrastructure for the global sports event.