Brazil's Lula to Portugal: Don't take bailout

LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Brazil's enormously popular ex-president says Portugal should never accept a bailout to solve its severe debt problems because outside help could cause more problems than it would solve.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Portuguese politicians have correctly tried to avoid getting help from institutions like the International Monetary Fund - and should continue doing so even though the nation is on the verge of financial collapse.

Silva made the comments late Monday as he began a three-day visit to Portugal along with his hand-picked successor, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

Silva, who left office in January, said: "The IMF won't resolve Portugal's problem, like it didn't solve Brazil's."

Brazil took a $41.5 billion IMF loan in 1998, but like many emerging markets has enjoyed an economic boom in recent years.