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Brazil unrest: New clashes as President Rousseff cancels visit Brazil unrest: New clashes as President Rousseff cancels visit
(about 1 hour later)
There have been violent clashes between protesters and police in a fresh wave of anti-government rallies in Brazil.There have been violent clashes between protesters and police in a fresh wave of anti-government rallies in Brazil.
Huge crowds marched in Rio de Janeiro, and police used tear gas against demonstrators outside the city hall. In Rio de Janeiro police used tear gas as crowds marched on the city hall to protest over corruption, public services and a range of other issues.
In the north-eastern city of Salvador, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters ahead of an international football match there.In the north-eastern city of Salvador, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters ahead of an international football match there.
The unrest over corruption, public services and other issues has led the president to cancel a trip overseas. The first death from more than a week of protests was reported overnight.
President Dilma Rousseff's decision to call off the visit to Japan planned for next week is an indication of the seriousness of the situation, the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says. An 18-year-old man was killed in the city of Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo state when a motorist drove through a barricade where he was protesting, police say. The driver is said to have fled the scene afterwards.
President Dilma Rousseff announced on Thursday that she was cancelling a visit to Japan. The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says this is an indication of the seriousness of the situation.
In Rio de Janeiro riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at groups of masked young men trying to approach the City Hall late on Thursday. At least 29 people were reported to be injured in the clashes.In Rio de Janeiro riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at groups of masked young men trying to approach the City Hall late on Thursday. At least 29 people were reported to be injured in the clashes.
Some reports suggest about 300,000 people were taking part in an anti-government rally in the city.Some reports suggest about 300,000 people were taking part in an anti-government rally in the city.
Rio authorities have sealed off the state legislature building, the state governor's office, Guanabara Palace and the mayor's office.Rio authorities have sealed off the state legislature building, the state governor's office, Guanabara Palace and the mayor's office.
TV images showed gangs looting shops in the city centre - although many Rio shopkeepers and banks had put up wooden hoardings to protect their premises.TV images showed gangs looting shops in the city centre - although many Rio shopkeepers and banks had put up wooden hoardings to protect their premises.
Protesters earlier told our correspondent they would not march to Rio's Maracana stadium, which hosted a Confederations Cup match between Spain and Tahiti.Protesters earlier told our correspondent they would not march to Rio's Maracana stadium, which hosted a Confederations Cup match between Spain and Tahiti.
In the capital, Brasilia, demonstrators started a small fire at the entrance to the foreign ministry and were driven back by police using rubber bullets and tear gas.In the capital, Brasilia, demonstrators started a small fire at the entrance to the foreign ministry and were driven back by police using rubber bullets and tear gas.
Other government buildings in the city were attacked and riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to scatter the crowds. About 26 people were reported to be injured.Other government buildings in the city were attacked and riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to scatter the crowds. About 26 people were reported to be injured.
There were also clashes outside a football stadium in Salvador ahead of a Confederations Cup match between Nigeria and Uruguay. Violence erupted when protesters tried to break through a police barrier near the stadium.There were also clashes outside a football stadium in Salvador ahead of a Confederations Cup match between Nigeria and Uruguay. Violence erupted when protesters tried to break through a police barrier near the stadium.
More clashes were reported in Porto Alegre in the south, Campinas north of Sao Paulo and in the north-eastern city of Salvador.More clashes were reported in Porto Alegre in the south, Campinas north of Sao Paulo and in the north-eastern city of Salvador.
In Sao Paulo, police say 100,000 people gathered on the city's landmark Avenida Paulista.In Sao Paulo, police say 100,000 people gathered on the city's landmark Avenida Paulista.
Members of the city's Free Access Movement (Movimento Passe Livre) - which has been campaigning for better public transport - earlier pledged to take to the streets "to celebrate" the reversal of a public-transport fare increase.Members of the city's Free Access Movement (Movimento Passe Livre) - which has been campaigning for better public transport - earlier pledged to take to the streets "to celebrate" the reversal of a public-transport fare increase.
The protests, originally triggered by the increase on 2 June, have since grown into a much wider movement.The protests, originally triggered by the increase on 2 June, have since grown into a much wider movement.
The protesters are angry at corruption and poor public services as well as the huge cost of next year's football World Cup, saying the government should also invest in education and healthcare.The protesters are angry at corruption and poor public services as well as the huge cost of next year's football World Cup, saying the government should also invest in education and healthcare.
Previous Confederations Cup matches have drawn protests, with demonstrators expressing their anger at steep ticket prices and the money spent on the Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.Previous Confederations Cup matches have drawn protests, with demonstrators expressing their anger at steep ticket prices and the money spent on the Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In the city of Fortaleza, which was hosting the Brazil v Mexico match on Wednesday, demonstrators carried banners reading: "A teacher is worth more than Neymar", in a reference to Brazil's star footballer.In the city of Fortaleza, which was hosting the Brazil v Mexico match on Wednesday, demonstrators carried banners reading: "A teacher is worth more than Neymar", in a reference to Brazil's star footballer.
Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad said Wednesday's reversal of the fare rise was a "big sacrifice", which meant other investments would have to be cut.Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad said Wednesday's reversal of the fare rise was a "big sacrifice", which meant other investments would have to be cut.
Sao Paulo and Rio are the latest two cities to reverse such increases after similar moves by the authorities in Cuiaba, Recife and Joao Pessoa.Sao Paulo and Rio are the latest two cities to reverse such increases after similar moves by the authorities in Cuiaba, Recife and Joao Pessoa.
The fare rollback, while welcomed by many, has so far failed to quell the protests.The fare rollback, while welcomed by many, has so far failed to quell the protests.
"This means that our politicians have begun to hear our voices. This is something that has never happened before - in a non-election year, at least," Daniel Acosta from Sao Paulo told the BBC."This means that our politicians have begun to hear our voices. This is something that has never happened before - in a non-election year, at least," Daniel Acosta from Sao Paulo told the BBC.
"It's a start. What happens now, nobody knows yet, but it gives us hope," he added."It's a start. What happens now, nobody knows yet, but it gives us hope," he added.
But 18-year-old student Camila Sena said the protests had become much wider and the concession on fare prices would not change much.But 18-year-old student Camila Sena said the protests had become much wider and the concession on fare prices would not change much.
"It's not really about the price [of transport] any more," she said while taking part in a protest in the city of Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro, on Wednesday."It's not really about the price [of transport] any more," she said while taking part in a protest in the city of Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro, on Wednesday.
"People are so disgusted with the system, so fed up that now we're demanding change.""People are so disgusted with the system, so fed up that now we're demanding change."
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.