According to the report, Peter Mutharika, a brother of the dead president and a former foreign minister, and Mr Gondwe, the current economic planning minister, had suggested to army commander Gen Henry Odillo that the military "just take over", our correspondent says.

BBC: Malawi arrests over 'anti-Joyce Banda coup plot'

The appointment of Miriam Belchior, a confidante of the new president, as planning minister suggests that Ms Rousseff intends to be closely involved in economic policy herself.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's next government: Many questions, a few answers | The