(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-05 17:33

RIO DE JANEIRO - President of Brazil's National Congress Renan Calheiros announced his resignation Tuesday amid a graft scandal.

Senator Renan Calheiros announces his resignation from the presidency of Brazil's Senate at the senate floor in Brasilia December 4, 2007. [Agencies]

Calheiros, of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), made the announcement in his speech to the Senate.

Saying he would retain his position as a senator, Calheiros protested his innocence in the accusations that he used third parties to illegally acquire two radio stations and a newspaper.

"I give up my mandate as Senate president without grief or resentment, holding my head high," he told his colleagues at the Senate.

The senator said he left the post because he wanted to be tried as an ordinary senator.

As soon as he announced the decision, acting Senate speaker Tiao Viana scheduled a meeting for next Tuesday with party leaders to discuss the election of his successor. Garibaldi Alves, also a PMDB member, is seen as the favorite candidate to replace Calheiros.

Calheiros has been accused of spying on his colleagues, breaking with legislative decorum, offering favors to a private company, taking part in a corruption scheme and buying a radio company via another company used as a front.

In September he narrowly escaped being removed from office for corruption after a senate vote resulted in a small majority in his favor.

In October, he took leave for 45 days, and vice Senate speaker Viana has occupied the post temporarily ever since.

Calheiros, a close ally of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is one of the country's most influential politicians.