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Brazil Rio carnival: Beija-Flor wins despite 'Obiang link' | Brazil Rio carnival: Beija-Flor wins despite 'Obiang link' |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A Brazilian samba school, which is alleged to have received funding from Equatorial Guinea, has been crowned champion of Rio de Janeiro's carnival. | A Brazilian samba school, which is alleged to have received funding from Equatorial Guinea, has been crowned champion of Rio de Janeiro's carnival. |
Beija-Flor, one of Rio's top samba-schools, told the story of the African nation in its carnival parade. | Beija-Flor, one of Rio's top samba-schools, told the story of the African nation in its carnival parade. |
The group said it had received support from the oil-rich nation, but denied reports that it had been paid more than $3m (£1.9m) for its choice of theme. | The group said it had received support from the oil-rich nation, but denied reports that it had been paid more than $3m (£1.9m) for its choice of theme. |
President Teodoro Obiang is believed to be one of Africa's richest men. | President Teodoro Obiang is believed to be one of Africa's richest men. |
Many Equatorial Guineans live in poverty despite 20 years of oil production. | Many Equatorial Guineans live in poverty despite 20 years of oil production. |
Mr Obiang seized power in a coup in 1979 and is the longest-serving leader in Africa. | Mr Obiang seized power in a coup in 1979 and is the longest-serving leader in Africa. |
Amnesty International has called for transparency and said Rio's world famous carnival should not be sponsored by a man it accuses of serious human rights violations and corruption. | Amnesty International has called for transparency and said Rio's world famous carnival should not be sponsored by a man it accuses of serious human rights violations and corruption. |
Controversy apart, Beija-Flor (Portuguese for hummingbird) was always among the favourites to win the Rio carnival parade. | Controversy apart, Beija-Flor (Portuguese for hummingbird) was always among the favourites to win the Rio carnival parade. |
A panel of judges gave the samba school a near perfect mark in nine categories, ranging from costumes to the quality of the samba song composed specially for this year's event. | A panel of judges gave the samba school a near perfect mark in nine categories, ranging from costumes to the quality of the samba song composed specially for this year's event. |
Beija-Flor has now won the fiercely contested Rio carnival parade 13 times. | Beija-Flor has now won the fiercely contested Rio carnival parade 13 times. |
Only older groups Portela and Mangueira have more titles. | Only older groups Portela and Mangueira have more titles. |
The top six samba schools in this year's event return to the Sambadrome on Saturday for a celebratory parade, marking the end of the carnival. | The top six samba schools in this year's event return to the Sambadrome on Saturday for a celebratory parade, marking the end of the carnival. |
In 2006, samba school Vila Isabel was criticised for allegedly accepting funding to praise the government of then Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. | In 2006, samba school Vila Isabel was criticised for allegedly accepting funding to praise the government of then Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. |
Correction: An earlier version of this article contained a picture which was captioned: "President Obiang was among some 70,000 people who attended Beija-Flor's parade at Rio's Sambadrome." The BBC now believes the man shown was not the president. |
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