Brazil's former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in Thursday as chief of staff to his embattled successor Dilma Rousseff amid angry protests from opponents who accuse him of trying to dodge corruption charges.

Lula took office in a tumultuous scene at the presidential palace, where a protester shouted "Shame!" and the ex-president's supporters chanted slogans accusing their opponents of seeking a "coup."