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| Brazil protests: Dilma Rousseff unveils reforms | Brazil protests: Dilma Rousseff unveils reforms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has unveiled a series of reforms in an attempt to end days of nationwide anti-government protests. | Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has unveiled a series of reforms in an attempt to end days of nationwide anti-government protests. |
| In a televised address she said she would draft a new plan to benefit public transport and that all oil royalties would be used in education. | In a televised address she said she would draft a new plan to benefit public transport and that all oil royalties would be used in education. |
| She also said that thousands of doctors would be drafted it from overseas to improve the national health service. | She also said that thousands of doctors would be drafted it from overseas to improve the national health service. |
| Earlier she held an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the protests. | Earlier she held an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the protests. |
| The demonstrations began over transport fare rises in Sao Paulo, but quickly grew into rallies across the country against corruption and other issues. | The demonstrations began over transport fare rises in Sao Paulo, but quickly grew into rallies across the country against corruption and other issues. |
| On Thursday night more than a million people took to the streets in protest and there was violence in various cities in which dozens were injured and two people died. | On Thursday night more than a million people took to the streets in protest and there was violence in various cities in which dozens were injured and two people died. |
| Protests continued on Friday with an estimated 1,000 people marching in Rio de Janeiro. | |
| Witnesses said some stores were looted and an empty arts centre building was invaded. Police were pelted with rocks and responded with tear gas. | |
| Demonstrations also took place in Sao Paulo - where traffic was brought to a halt but no violence was reported - and in Fortaleza in Brazil's north-east. | |
| In her address - pre-recorded was broadcast nationally on TV and radio - Mrs Rousseff said she was listening to the demonstrators' concerns. | In her address - pre-recorded was broadcast nationally on TV and radio - Mrs Rousseff said she was listening to the demonstrators' concerns. |
| She promised to meet the leaders of the peaceful protests saying she needed "their contribution, their energy and their ability". | She promised to meet the leaders of the peaceful protests saying she needed "their contribution, their energy and their ability". |
| Football anger | |
| The BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says President Rousseff struck a conciliatory note for the most challenging speech she has had to make as Brazil's leader, | |
| "I want institutions that are more transparent, more resistant to wrongdoing," she said. | |
| She also defended hosting next year's football World Cup saying Brazil had always been welcomed in international events. | |
| "We will treat our guests with respect and make a great World Cup," she said. | "We will treat our guests with respect and make a great World Cup," she said. |
| Answering criticism of the cost of hosting the event, she said the World Cup will be paid for by companies that are making use of the sporting arenas. | Answering criticism of the cost of hosting the event, she said the World Cup will be paid for by companies that are making use of the sporting arenas. |
| "I would never allow this money to come out of the taxpayers' money, harming essential areas such as health and education," she said. | "I would never allow this money to come out of the taxpayers' money, harming essential areas such as health and education," she said. |
| Some of the protests have targeted the Confederations Cup, the eight-team tournament currently taking place which is considered a dry run for next year's World Cup. | |
| Demonstrators have expressed their anger at steep ticket prices and the money spent on both tournaments, as well as the 2016 Olympic Games, which Rio de Janeiro is hosting. | |
| Football's world governing body, Fifa, has strongly rejected Brazilian media speculation that the Confederations Cup could be cancelled. |