SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) – President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed the worst political crisis of his tenure yesterday, saying that an investigation into allegations of corruption within his party “will leave no stone unturned.”

Silva, speaking on his biweekly “Coffee with the President” radio program a week after the accusations were first aired, pledged to “cut into my own flesh” to rid Brazil of corruption, an apparent reference to fellow members of his ruling Workers Party.

“We’re going to take advantage of this moment to do the things that need to be done in Brazil because we need to show Brazilian society that it’s possible to end corruption in Brazil,” Silva said.

In his bid to defuse his worst crisis since taking office in 2003, Silva also indirectly criticised Rep Roberto Jefferson, who claims suitcases of cash were flown to the capital of Brasilia and distributed in monthly payments to congressmen so they would support Silva’s legislative efforts.

Jefferson, the leader of Brazil’s Labor Party, said over the weekend that media reports that he had taped evidence to back up his claims were false – but insisted that Workers Party treasurer Delubio Soares and Presidential Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu knew about the payoffs.

Without mentioning Jefferson’s name, Silva said he has “always thought that when someone accuses someone else, they have to prove their accusation.”

Jefferson says the money for the bribes was collected from private and state companies by officials who worked with Soares and Dirceu, but did not name the firms.