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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Brazilian samba star is shot dead | Brazilian samba star is shot dead |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A leader of one of Rio's de Janeiro's top samba parade groups and his wife have been shot dead, days before the city's world-famous Carnival begins. | |
| Guaracy Paes Falcao, vice chairman of the Salgueiro samba school, and his wife were killed by unidentified gunmen as he left the group's headquarters. | Guaracy Paes Falcao, vice chairman of the Salgueiro samba school, and his wife were killed by unidentified gunmen as he left the group's headquarters. |
| The deaths coincided with an anti-drug gang raid in Rio by a new elite police force in which another six people died. | The deaths coincided with an anti-drug gang raid in Rio by a new elite police force in which another six people died. |
| Rio's carnival begins on Sunday with a televised traditional parade. | |
| Lottery rings | Lottery rings |
| The shooting of Mr Falcao and his wife happened in Tijuca, a middle-class area surrounded by slums, or "favelas", on the north side of the city. | The shooting of Mr Falcao and his wife happened in Tijuca, a middle-class area surrounded by slums, or "favelas", on the north side of the city. |
| One unnamed police officer told the Reuters news agency that the shootings could be an "execution", judging by the characteristics of the crime. | One unnamed police officer told the Reuters news agency that the shootings could be an "execution", judging by the characteristics of the crime. |
| A protest in Rio for young crime victim Joao Helio FernandesSome samba schools are sponsored by illegal lottery rings, a pairing that has previously led to the death of leading Carnival figures. | |
| Mr Falcao's relation, Waldemir Garcia, an official in Salgueiro, was killed in 2004. Reports say police suspected a link with a turf war over slot machines. | Mr Falcao's relation, Waldemir Garcia, an official in Salgueiro, was killed in 2004. Reports say police suspected a link with a turf war over slot machines. |
| In recent weeks, Rio has seen violent battles between police, drug gangs and self-styled militias made up of off-duty officers who have expelled gangs from about a sixth of the city's slum areas. | In recent weeks, Rio has seen violent battles between police, drug gangs and self-styled militias made up of off-duty officers who have expelled gangs from about a sixth of the city's slum areas. |
| The government despatched hundreds of specially trained officers from the national security force in response to violence in December, when gangs set fire to buses and attacked police posts. | The government despatched hundreds of specially trained officers from the national security force in response to violence in December, when gangs set fire to buses and attacked police posts. |
| In Wednesday's Rio drug raid, more than 100 officers from the elite National Security Force entered the poor neighbourhood of Complexo de Alemao. | In Wednesday's Rio drug raid, more than 100 officers from the elite National Security Force entered the poor neighbourhood of Complexo de Alemao. |
| Officials say four of the six killed were suspected drug traffickers. | Officials say four of the six killed were suspected drug traffickers. |
| Also on Wednesday about 500 people attended a Mass and then held a protest in Rio in memory of a six-year-old boy, Joao Helio Fernandes, who was dragged to death as thieves stole his mother's car last week. | Also on Wednesday about 500 people attended a Mass and then held a protest in Rio in memory of a six-year-old boy, Joao Helio Fernandes, who was dragged to death as thieves stole his mother's car last week. |
| The demonstrators demanded peace and justice. | The demonstrators demanded peace and justice. |