Brazil's vice President Michel Temer has become acting President, after Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office, following a decision by the senate to put her on trial for breaking budget laws.

In a televised speech on Thursday, Rousseff called the impeachment movement a coup, and warned that it would threaten key government welfare programs. Earlier 55 senators voted in favour of putting Rousseff on trial.

Meanwhile, the newly in-charge Temer said his priority is reviving Latin America's largest economy. Temer called for unity, and promised to increase jobs and beef up the fight against corruption.

"United, we will be able to face the challenges in this moment of great difficulty. I reiterate, as I have said, that it is urgent to pacify the nation and unify Brazil. We need to urgently make a government of national salvation," Temer said.