Brazil leader to 'fight to last minute' against impeachment

Brasilia: Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff vowed Wednesday she will "fight to the last minute" against efforts to impeach her, despite key allies deserting her as she clings to office.

"I will fight to the last minute of the second half," she said, employing a football metaphor, in an interview published by several media.

Lawmakers will hold a crucial vote on impeachment proceedings against Rousseff in congress on Sunday.

In Wednesday's interview, she repeated her offer to forge a political compromise pact if she survives Sunday's vote.

The 68-year-old leader is moving closer to being driven from office in a political and economic crisis rocking Latin America's biggest country less than four months before it hosts the Olympic Games.

Pressure rose after two blocs in Rousseff's ruling coalition announced on Tuesday they would vote to impeach her.

Those defections swelled the number of lawmakers likely to back a motion against her when the lower house of congress votes Sunday on whether an impeachment trial should be launched.

Polls published in the Brazilian media indicate opposition parties are closing in on securing the 342 votes needed to approve the impeachment motion and send it to the Senate for a further vote.