Lula says 'no explanation' for Brazil's current interest rate levels

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday there was "no explanation" for the country's high interest rates, with the benchmark rate at a six-year high of 13.75%, adding that development bank BNDES could help bring down lending costs.

Lula, who last week criticized the central bank's formal autonomy and suggested a review of the measure, said Brazil's problem was a "culture of high rates" rather than the newfound independence of the central bank. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Gabriel Araujo)