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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 in 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 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. | 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. | 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 and 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 | 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. | "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. | 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 financed 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. | 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. | 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. | Football's world governing body, Fifa, has strongly rejected Brazilian media speculation that the Confederations Cup could be cancelled. |