RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and former Sao Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin exchanged accusations and heavy criticism Sunday night on national TV during the first live debate in the second and f inal round of Brazils presidential election.

Brazil's presidential candidates Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (R) and Geraldo Alckmin (L) take part in a television debate with journalist Ricardo Boechat in Sao Paulo October 8, 2006.(Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    The debate was broadcasted by TV network Bandeirantes from its headquarters in Sao Paulo. The election will be held on Oct. 29.

    During the debate, Alckmin avoided issues such as the governments economic and social policies and stressed the involvement of members of Lulas' Workers Party (PT) in recent scandals.

    The candidate of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) particularly exploited the scandal that connected PT with the purchase of a dossier on candidates of PSDB. Alckmin asked the president to explain the origin of the money allegedly used by PT members to buy the dossier.

    Lula stressed that all the people charged with involvement in the case have been dismissed from their positions and the authorities are investigating the case.

    Lula accused Alckmin of cutting down by 15 percent the investments in public security in his administration as governor of Sao Paulo, which would have contributed to major attacks held by organized crime gangs in three different occasions in the state this year. Enditem