Impeachment trial a step away from 'real coup d'tat,' says Brazil's Dilma Rousseff

Suspended president DilmaRousseff appeared before Brazil's Senate on Monday to defendherself against charges of breaking budget laws in an impeachmenttrial that is expected to remove her from office this week.

"I know Iwill be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit acrime,"Rousseff told the senators as the session got underway Monday morning.

"I can't help but taste the bitterness ofinjustice."

• After impeachment, Brazil's road ahead filled with challenges

"I did not commit the crimes that I am arbitrarily and unjustly accused of," she said, in what may be her last public appearance as president. "We are one step away from a real coup d'tat."

Senators who questioned Rousseff in Monday'ssession werescheduled to vote late Tuesday or earlyWednesday on whether to convict herand remove her fromoffice.

Unbowed, Rousseff told senators that history would judge them by their votes and recalled her trial under the military dictatorship in 1970, when officers hid their faces to avoid beingrecognized in photographs.

"This is the second trial I have suffered in which democracy has sat with me in the dock," she said, choking back tears as she recalled facing death when she was tortured day after day in detention. "Today I only fear the death of democracy."

If she is dismissed, interim President Michel Temer wouldofficially take over as Brazil's leader to serve out theremainder of the presidential term through 2018.

Rousseff is accused of using money owed to state banks to bolster spending during an election year in 2014, a budgetary sleight of hand employed by many elected officials in Brazil. She says the money had no impact on overall deficit levels and was paid back in full the following year.

Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski opened the session saying he will remove anyone who applauds, boos or shouts any comments during the proceedings.

With many Brazilians assuming the result of the trial to be a foregone conclusion, there were scattered protests by Rousseff supporters on Monday but no sign of the massive demonstrations for and against impeachment that shook Brazil earlier this year.

A survey by O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper said 53 senators have already confirmed they will vote against Rousseff, just one vote short of the two-thirds of the 81-seat Senate needed to dismiss her. Only 19 said they will back her.

• CBC IN BRAZIL | PR war waged over former Brazilian leader