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| Brazil launches slum reform drive | Brazil launches slum reform drive |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Brazilian government has announced an investment plan worth $1.7bn to improve living conditions in the shantytowns of Rio de Janeiro. | The Brazilian government has announced an investment plan worth $1.7bn to improve living conditions in the shantytowns of Rio de Janeiro. |
| The move comes days after a huge police operation against Rio's drugs gangs in which 19 people died. | The move comes days after a huge police operation against Rio's drugs gangs in which 19 people died. |
| President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that investing in running water and other basic sanitation was the best way to beat organised crime. | President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that investing in running water and other basic sanitation was the best way to beat organised crime. |
| More than 1m people live in Rio's sprawling slums, known as favelas. | |
| The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says the government now seems determined to ensure the drugs gangs cannot take responsibility for services which the state would normally provide. | The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says the government now seems determined to ensure the drugs gangs cannot take responsibility for services which the state would normally provide. |
| Rio state security chief Jose Beltrame said last week that slum residents were "at the mercy of a parallel state, where criminals dictate their will." | Rio state security chief Jose Beltrame said last week that slum residents were "at the mercy of a parallel state, where criminals dictate their will." |
| He pledged more police raids to combat drug traffickers. | He pledged more police raids to combat drug traffickers. |
| We want to compete with organised crime, and we are sure that we will beat it when we manage to bring benefits to the poorest places President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva War on Rio's drug gangs | We want to compete with organised crime, and we are sure that we will beat it when we manage to bring benefits to the poorest places President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva War on Rio's drug gangs |
| Last week's operation took place in a Rio district called Complexo do Alemao - or German Complex. | Last week's operation took place in a Rio district called Complexo do Alemao - or German Complex. |
| The slum, home to some 100,000 people, had been targeted by police since May but Wednesday's raid was the biggest and bloodiest offensive to date. | The slum, home to some 100,000 people, had been targeted by police since May but Wednesday's raid was the biggest and bloodiest offensive to date. |
| More than 1,000 heavily armed police and special forces went in, backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters. | More than 1,000 heavily armed police and special forces went in, backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters. |
| Residents and human rights groups have criticised such operations and called for better services. | Residents and human rights groups have criticised such operations and called for better services. |
| Announcing the new money, President Lula da Silva said: "We want to compete with organised crime, and we are sure that we will beat it when we manage to bring benefits to the poorest places." | Announcing the new money, President Lula da Silva said: "We want to compete with organised crime, and we are sure that we will beat it when we manage to bring benefits to the poorest places." |
| Officials say the extra funding announced for Rio's favelas will help around two million families. | Officials say the extra funding announced for Rio's favelas will help around two million families. |