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Brazil: Violence erupts in Rio after general strike | Brazil: Violence erupts in Rio after general strike |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Violence has erupted in Brazil at the end of the country's first general strike in more than 20 years. | Violence has erupted in Brazil at the end of the country's first general strike in more than 20 years. |
Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city centre. Road blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and shops were vandalised. | Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city centre. Road blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and shops were vandalised. |
For most of the day the strike had been largely peaceful. Many people stayed at home and shops, schools and banks remained closed across the country. | For most of the day the strike had been largely peaceful. Many people stayed at home and shops, schools and banks remained closed across the country. |
Unions called the strike in protest at proposed pension reforms. | Unions called the strike in protest at proposed pension reforms. |
President Michel Temer said he regretted the incidents in Rio. But he stressed that he would continue his "efforts to modernise the country". | President Michel Temer said he regretted the incidents in Rio. But he stressed that he would continue his "efforts to modernise the country". |
Brazilian workers and the government are working together, he said, to get the country out of "the worst recession in its history." | Brazilian workers and the government are working together, he said, to get the country out of "the worst recession in its history." |
The trade unions say the poorest in Brazil will bear the cost of the changes, which include raising retirement age and reducing benefits. | The trade unions say the poorest in Brazil will bear the cost of the changes, which include raising retirement age and reducing benefits. |
The government argues that the measures are needed to avoid a collapse of the pension system. | The government argues that the measures are needed to avoid a collapse of the pension system. |
The effects of the strike were felt across the country, Many people stayed at home, others only worked in the morning. | The effects of the strike were felt across the country, Many people stayed at home, others only worked in the morning. |
Many roads were blocked in Sao Paulo, Rio and other cities. | Many roads were blocked in Sao Paulo, Rio and other cities. |
Early in the evening, opposition demonstrators took part in rallies and protests to show their discontentment with Mr Temer's pension reform. | Early in the evening, opposition demonstrators took part in rallies and protests to show their discontentment with Mr Temer's pension reform. |
In Rio, some of the protests descended into violence. | In Rio, some of the protests descended into violence. |
Police fired tear gas and activist hurled stones. | Police fired tear gas and activist hurled stones. |
Eight buses were set alight, according to O Globo newspaper. | Eight buses were set alight, according to O Globo newspaper. |
In Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, thousands of demonstrators marched on Mr Temer's private residence. Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd. | In Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, thousands of demonstrators marched on Mr Temer's private residence. Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd. |
The government said the general strike would have no impact on the reforms. | The government said the general strike would have no impact on the reforms. |
Earlier this week Mr Temer won a parliamentary vote supporting his labour reforms by a clear margin. | Earlier this week Mr Temer won a parliamentary vote supporting his labour reforms by a clear margin. |
This has been the hallmark of his administration: a president who is very unpopular in the streets, but is able to get things done in Congress, says the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo. | This has been the hallmark of his administration: a president who is very unpopular in the streets, but is able to get things done in Congress, says the BBC's Daniel Gallas in Sao Paulo. |
Mr Temer took office a year ago, when then-President Dilma Rousseff was suspended by Congress to face impeachment proceedings. | Mr Temer took office a year ago, when then-President Dilma Rousseff was suspended by Congress to face impeachment proceedings. |
He was sworn in in September, after the Senate voted to dismiss her over accounting irregularities. His term ends in December 2018. | He was sworn in in September, after the Senate voted to dismiss her over accounting irregularities. His term ends in December 2018. |
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