BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz  Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday again blamed blue-eyed people  for the global economic crisis, only weeks after he was widely  criticized for the same remark.

He made the remark with racist undertones when he announced  a social housing project in Rio de Janeiro that would have a  swimming pool.

“They will be treated like the people with blue eyes, who  are responsible for the financial crisis,” Lula told Globo  Radio, referring to the future tenants.

During a joint news conference with British Prime Minister  Gordon Brown last month in the capital Brasilia, Lula said  “this crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white  people with blue eyes.”

“I don’t know any black or indigenous bankers,” he said at  the time.

The former union leader, who has frequently made  controversial comments, said he had wanted to say the crisis  was hitting the poor more than the rich.

The comment was widely criticized in international media  and became the focus of heated debates in diplomatic circles.

Many analysts said it was directed toward a domestic  audience and was not intended to offend whites.