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Brazil protests spread in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio Brazil protests spread in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio
(about 3 hours later)
Tens of thousands of people marched through Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, on Monday as protests spread over rising public transport prices and the cost of staging the 2014 World Cup. As many as 200,000 people have marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities, as protests over rising public transport costs and the expense of staging the 2014 World Cup have spread.
Marches took place in at least ten cities including the capital, Brasilia, where demonstrators climbed onto the roof of the national congress building. The biggest protests were in Rio de Janeiro, where stone-throwing youths clashed with police, and in Sao Paulo.
Protesters also clashed with police near Rio de Janeiro's state assembly. In the capital, Brasilia, people breached security at the National Congress building and scaled its roof.
The unrest began last week, after the announcement of increased bus fares. The protests are the largest seen in Brazil for more than 20 years.
But the complaints of demonstrators soon extended beyond transport costs when clashes in Sao Paulo led to claims of excessive use of force by police. Dozens of people were hurt, including several journalists. The trigger was a 2 June increase in the price of a single bus fare in Sao Paulo from 3 reals ($1.40, £0.90) to 3.20. Authorities said the rise was well below inflation, which since the last price increase in January 2011 has been 15.5%, according to official figures.
Since then, protesters have voiced frustration at public transport, security, health and the extent of public investment in two international football tournaments. In the country soon due to host the World Cup and Olympics, many are now complaining that vast sums of money are being wasted instead of used for health and education, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo.
The protests have increased since the start of the Confederations Cup on Saturday, seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup. Political leaders have also been accused of nepotism and corruption.
Standstill 'Legitimate'
As Monday's protests gathered strength, demonstrators in the capital, Brasilia, breached the high security area of the national congress building, climbing onto the roof of the Oscar Niemeyer-designed structure. Protests were reported in as many as 11 cities on Monday.
In Sao Paulo, some 65,000 people brought the country's largest city to a standstill, as police stood by and watched. Demonstrators chanted slogans, including "The people have awakened", the BBC's Julia Carneiro reports from Sao Paulo.
Security chiefs had met protest organisers earlier in an attempt to avert trouble and announced that regular police would not carry rubber bullet guns at the demonstration. The demonstrations were relatively peaceful, though some of the 100,000 people estimated to have taken to the streets in Rio de Janeiro threw rocks at police, wounding five officers, set fire to a car and vandalised the state assembly building, starting a small blaze.
In Rio, another big crowd took to the streets of the city centre. As protesters reportedly tried to enter the state assembly, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. The police reportedly used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse them.
Demonstrators also set fire to a car and lit three bonfires on the streets. There were also clashes with police in Belo Horizonte, which was hosting the latest game in the Confederations Cup, the warm-up tournament for the World Cup. An 18 year old is reportedly in a stable condition in hospital after falling from an overpass in the city.
There were also protests in Belem and clashes in Belo Horizonte, as protesters tried to make their way to a stadium hosting a Confederations Cup match between Tahiti and Nigeria. And in Brasilia, more than 200 protesters managed to get onto the roof of the National Congress building. After negotiations with police, the crowd agreed to leave. Later, youths formed a human chain around the building, the AFP news agency said.
In the northern city of Maceio, a student was reportedly shot in the face by a motorist angry with a crowd that blocked the road. In Sao Paulo, some 65,000 protesters gathered at a central plaza before moving off in three directions, bringing the main avenues to a standstill.
Marches also happened in Vitoria, Porto Alegre, Novo Hamburgo and other cities. Police stood by and watched the demonstrations, in contrast to last week when clashes in the city led to dozens of injuries and claims of excessive use of force by police. Police denied they had acted unlawfully but said they would investigate the allegations.
'Vandals' Security chiefs had met protest organisers earlier on Monday in an attempt to avert trouble and announced that regular police would not carry rubber bullet guns at the demonstration.
The spark for Brazil's escalating protests was a 2 June increase in the price of a single bus fare in Sao Paulo from 3 reals ($1.40, £0.90) to 3.20 reals. There were also protests in the cities of Vitoria, Novo Hamburgo, Belem and Maceio, where a student was reportedly shot in the face by a motorist angry with a crowd that blocked the road.
Authorities say the rise is well below inflation, which since the last price increase in January 2011 has been at 15.5%, according to official figures. "Peaceful demonstrations are legitimate," President Dilma Rousseff said in a statement. "It is natural for the young to demonstrate."
Protesters who initially campaigned against bus fares have also expressed anger about inequality and corruption, demanding higher public spending on education and health. However, Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo warned protesters that the authorities would not allow them to disrupt the Confederations Cup or next year's World Cup.
Last Thursday, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators, many of whom were reported hurt. "The government assumed the responsibility and the honour to stage these two international events and will do so, ensuring the security and integrity of the fans and tourists," he said.
Dozens of buses and buildings have so far been damaged, prompting Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin to describe demonstrators as "vandals".
Before Saturday's opening Confederations Cup match in the capital, Brasilia, protesters tried to approach the Mane Garrincha stadium, but were dispersed by the police.Before Saturday's opening Confederations Cup match in the capital, Brasilia, protesters tried to approach the Mane Garrincha stadium, but were dispersed by the police.
The following day, a similar march close to the Maracana stadium in Rio, where Mexico were playing Italy, was ended by police with rubber bullets and tear gas. The following day, a similar march close to the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro was ended by police with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Eyewitnesses said police had used riot control measures - including firing rubber bullets and tear gas - against peaceful protesters.
Police denied they had acted unlawfully but said they would investigate the allegations.
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