BRASILIA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The Brazilian government expects to reach agreement by Friday with Samarco Mineração SA SAMNE.UL to settle a 20 billion-real ($4.9 billion) lawsuit for damages related to a deadly November dam disaster, a spokesman for Brazil's attorney general said on Wednesday.
Brazil has sued Samarco, a 50-50 iron ore mining joint venture between Brazil's Vale SA VALE5.SA and Australia's BHP Billiton (L:BLT) Ltd BHP.AX , for 20 billion reais ($4.8 billion) after the dam, which held iron ore tailings, burst in Brazil's Minas Gerais state.
The government considers the tragedy the worst environmental disaster in the country's history.
($1 = 4.0411 Brazilian reais)