Rio de Janeiro, Jul 28 (Prensa Latina) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday emphasized his support for thorough investigations of allegations of corruption in the country, as well as punishment for anyone found guilty.


The president referred to the issue yesterday, when announcing the construction of a regional federal university in Bage, Rio Grande do Sul. "I guarantee that all allegations of corruption, within or outside the government, will be thoroughly investigated," the president said.



He said that in the last twenty years there has been no government as committed to exposing corruption as his administration.



"Those who made mistakes, be it from my party or any other, catholic or evangelic, man or woman, must be punished. I am convinced that corruption in Brazil and any other country is largely responsible for much of the poverty affecting people," Lula added.



In the course of investigations, "The persons must be given the opportunity to defend themselves, thus avoiding mistakes. Once the inquiry process concludes, someone will have to apologize to the innocents whose names "have been stained by the entire local press," the president warned.