Brazil reverses course, welcomes aid to fight Amazon wildfires

The Brazilian government said Tuesday that it welcomed all foreign aid from organizations or countries to help fight the forest fires in the Amazon as long as it can decide how to use the assistance.

"Brazilian sovereignty is not negotiable," presidential spokespersonRego Barros told reporters, adding that Brazil was not opposed to dialogue with France. President Jair Bolsonaro said earlier he wants French President Emmanuel Macron to withdraw "insults" made against him before he would consider accepting a $20 million US offer of aid from the G7 nations.

Bolsonaro said Tuesday that Macron had called him a liar and he accused the French president of questioning Brazil's sovereignty amid tensions over fires sweeping the Amazon region.

He spoke a day after the Group of Seven nations pledged $26.5million Cdnto help fight the flames in the Amazon and protect the rainforest, in addition to a separate $15.8million Cdnfrom Britain and $15million Cdnfrom Canada.

Macron and Bolsonaro have been feuding over social media in recent days, veering into personal matters. The Brazilian leader on Sunday hit the like button on his Facebook page fora postby asupporterwho mocked the appearance of Macron'swife, Brigitte. Bolsonaro added a quip about Macron being humiliated.

The Amazon's rainforests are a major absorber of carbon dioxide, considered a critical defence against rising temperatures and other disruptions caused by climate change. While many of the recorded fires this year were set in already deforested areas by people clearing land for cultivation or pasture, Brazilian government figures indicate that they are much more widespread this year, suggesting the threat to the vast ecosystem is intensifying.

The effect of the fires was evident in the Amazonian city of Porto Velhotoday, where a thick pall of smoke covered the sky for most of the day. Elane Diaz, a nurse in the city, spoke about respiratory problems while waiting for a doctor's appointment at a hospital with her five-year-old-son Eduardo.

"The kids are affected the most. They're coughing a lot," Diaz said. "They have problems breathing. I'm concerned because it affects their health."