Brasília, 11/15/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva commemorates the 115th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic (Proclamação da República) in Maceió, capital of the state of Alagoas. Brazil was proclaimed a republic by Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca, a military commander, in 1889. Fonseca was a native of Alagoas and the celebrations are to begin in a town named after him which is located 35 kilometers from the capital where horseriders will leave on a cavalcade to the capital.

In the afternoon, president Lula and the state governor, Ronaldo Lessa, will lay the cornerstone of a Memorial to the Republic in Maceió. They will also review troops.

Lula is scheduled to return to Brasilia this evening.

Agencial Brasil
Translator: Allen Bennett
11/15/2004