Venezuelan and Brazilian Leaders to Hold Talks on Politics, Energy

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBKCWQ79CE.html

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is visiting Brazil later Thursday for talks on politics and energy and a show of support for Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, embroiled in a domestic political scandal.

Chavez will arrive late Thursday on the third stop of a South American swing that included visits to Argentina and Uruguay. He and Silva are to have dinner at the Brazilian president's residence in the capital.

Silva plans to formally invite Chavez to attend a summit of the South American Community in Brasilia on Sept. 29-30, the government said on its Web site.

But Chavez's visit also is seen as a show of support for Silva, whose government has been accused of bribing legislators to support the government in Congress. The scandal hasn't touched Silva personally, but has forced the resignation of top members of the governing Workers Party.