Collor signs away power

BRASILIA (Reuter) - Brazil's Congress stripped Fernando Collor de Mello of power yesterday and put Vice-President Itamar Franco in charge, sending the disgraced President Collor off to jeers and insults from protesters.

Mr Collor signed a document advising him that Congress had suspended him from office for six months and that he will face an impeachment trial in the Senate on charges he took money from an influence-peddling racket. His wife, Rosane, and his cabinet stood by as Mr Collor signed the document.