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Brazil: New clashes in Fortaleza before football game | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Brazilian police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the city of Fortaleza, as unrest continues across the country. | Brazilian police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the city of Fortaleza, as unrest continues across the country. |
Several people were hurt in the north-eastern city ahead of the Confederations Cup game with Mexico. | Several people were hurt in the north-eastern city ahead of the Confederations Cup game with Mexico. |
The government warned earlier it would deploy forces to five cities. | |
The unrest was sparked by Sao Paulo's transport price hikes but it has now grown into broader discontent over poor public services and corruption. | The unrest was sparked by Sao Paulo's transport price hikes but it has now grown into broader discontent over poor public services and corruption. |
'Doing the right thing' | |
At least 30,000 people took part in the protest rally in Fortaleza on the main road leading to the stadium. | At least 30,000 people took part in the protest rally in Fortaleza on the main road leading to the stadium. |
Clashes erupted when the march was stopped by police. Some demonstrators began throwing stones, while police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. | Clashes erupted when the march was stopped by police. Some demonstrators began throwing stones, while police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. |
Access to the stadium was blocked for at least 30 minutes, but police later allowed people to get in ahead of the game which started at 19:00 GMT. | |
A number of protesters do have tickets and are believed to be at the game, however no trouble has been reported during the match. | |
The BBC's Ben Smith in Fortaleza says that during the protest some demonstrators carried banners reading: "A teacher is worth more than Neymar" - in a reference to Brazil's star footballer who is playing - and has scored - against Mexico. | |
Meanwhile, other national team players expressed their support for the demonstrators. | |
"After seeing the people on the streets claiming for improvements, it makes me feel like joining them,'' striker Hulk was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. | |
"They are doing the right thing, what they are saying makes sense and we have to hear them. Brazil needs to improve, we all know that," he added. | |
In a separate development, the president of the football's world governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter, urged protesters not to "use football to make their demands heard". | |
But speaking to Brazil's Globo TV, he added: "I can understand that people are not happy." | But speaking to Brazil's Globo TV, he added: "I can understand that people are not happy." |
Dilemma | Dilemma |
On Tuesday, riot police and protesters clashed in Sao Paulo - the largest city. | On Tuesday, riot police and protesters clashed in Sao Paulo - the largest city. |
Shops and banks were vandalised by groups of masked activists, who fought other demonstrators trying to stop the violence. | Shops and banks were vandalised by groups of masked activists, who fought other demonstrators trying to stop the violence. |
The current unrest is the biggest since 1992, when people took to the streets to demand the impeachment of then-President Fernando Collor de Mello. | The current unrest is the biggest since 1992, when people took to the streets to demand the impeachment of then-President Fernando Collor de Mello. |
Vice-President Michel Temer cut short a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday to return to Brazil. | Vice-President Michel Temer cut short a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday to return to Brazil. |
However, President Dilma Rousseff said she was proud that so many people were fighting for a better country. | However, President Dilma Rousseff said she was proud that so many people were fighting for a better country. |
Brazil's government earlier warned that it would deploy the National Public Security Force (FNSP) in the five cities hosting the Confederations Cup: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fortaleza and the capital, Brasilia. | Brazil's government earlier warned that it would deploy the National Public Security Force (FNSP) in the five cities hosting the Confederations Cup: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fortaleza and the capital, Brasilia. |
The authorities said that Recife was the only host city not to request the support of the force. The tournament is seen as a curtain-raiser event for next year's football World Cup. | The authorities said that Recife was the only host city not to request the support of the force. The tournament is seen as a curtain-raiser event for next year's football World Cup. |
The mayors of Cuiaba, Recife, Joao Pessoa and other cities have already announced a reduction in bus fares in response to Monday's protests, which saw more than 200,000 people take to the streets in more than a dozen cities. | The mayors of Cuiaba, Recife, Joao Pessoa and other cities have already announced a reduction in bus fares in response to Monday's protests, which saw more than 200,000 people take to the streets in more than a dozen cities. |
But the dilemma for the country's political leadership is how to answer so many different concerns among a vast group of people with momentum and social media on their side, correspondents say. | But the dilemma for the country's political leadership is how to answer so many different concerns among a vast group of people with momentum and social media on their side, correspondents say. |
Many of the demonstrators have complained of the huge sums spent on construction for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro. | Many of the demonstrators have complained of the huge sums spent on construction for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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