Brasília, 2/26/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with members of his political cabinet yesterday and ordered an intensification of the crackdown on gambling in the form of bingos and electronic slot machines. On Friday, February 20, Lula issued a Temporary Measure (medida provisoria number 168) closing the country's bingo houses and turning off electronic slot machines.

According to presidential spokesman, Andre Singer, the country and the Congress are fully behind the president in his decision to close down gambling in Brazil.

With regard to the case of Waldomiro Diniz, who worked in Parliamentary Liaison and was fired on February 13 after his connections with gambling kingpins came to light, Singer said the administration did what had to be done quickly and efficiently. Now the government is following the investigation of the case by the police and prosecutors, he concluded. (AB)