By Lisandra Paraguassu and Manuela Andreoni RIO DE JANEIRO -Leaders of the growing BRICS group of developing nations met in Brazil on Sunday, calling for reform of traditional Western institutions while presenting the bloc as a defender of multilateral diplomacy in an increasingly fractured world.

Bloc takes firm positions at summit on key global conflicts while avoiding criticism of Russia for the Ukraine war.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hit back on Monday at recent threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on countries that align themselves with BRICS.

By Manuela Andreoni and Lisandra Paraguassu RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Developing nations participating in the BRICS summit on Monday brushed away an accusation from U.S. President Donald Trump that the bloc is "anti-American,