Rousseff's fate on knife edge in impeachment

A tense, divided Brazil held its breath and braced for disturbances on the streets on Monday ahead of a vote to decide whether President Dilma Rousseff should face impeachment.

Action was scheduled to kick off with a congressional commission's nonbinding vote at about 5:00 pm on whether to recommend impeachment.

Then on Friday, the full lower house is expected to open debate, with a vote either on April 17 or April 18. A two-thirds majority would send Rousseff's case to the Senate. Anything less would allow the former guerrilla to stay in power.