Brazil's Supreme Court has invalidated a controversial decision by congressional politicians to award themselves a 91% pay rise.

In the face of huge public criticism of the wage rise, the court reviewed the vote and deemed it unconstitutional. The review was brought by four lawmakers who opposed the increase from nearly $6,000 a month to more than $11,000 a month.

The gap between rich and poor in Brazil is one of the biggest in the world. The minimum wage in Brazil is currently $159, and lawmakers are considering raising it to $167 - an increase of just 5%. Brazil's Roman Catholic Church and social groups were among the sternest critics of the congressional pay rise.

Supreme court justices ruled unanimously that the move was not legal because it was approved only by leaders of Brazil's political parties.

Although a legislative decree previously allowed congressional pay rises with that kind of vote, the decree's validity has expired. Legislators must now hold a vote in both houses of congress to give themselves a rise, the court said in its ruling.

(Published by BBC news, December 20, 2006)