Lula says he prays for Obama

Lula says he prays for ObamaRio de Janeiro  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that he prays for US President Barack Obama to be successful in his efforts to overcome the ongoing economic and financial crisis.

"I pray for him more than I pray for myself, that he may find a way out for the United States. And who knows whether that may help solve the problem for other countries," Lula said as he opened a hydroelectric plant in the central Brazilian state of Tocantins.

As he addressed workers, Lula said that "everyone, even the most humble worker, knows that that crisis started in the United States."

The slump brings punishment to international banks and risk-rating agencies that deal with emerging countries like Brazil, he said.

"They all went under, because they were earning money outside the real economy, because they were speculating, because they lifted the price of oil to 150 dollars for no reason whatsoever and then brought it down to 40 dollars, also for no reason," Lula said.

As for Brazil, Lula insisted that it is "the best-prepared country" to face the current turbulences.

"There is no reason whatsoever to fear the crisis," he said. (dpa)

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