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| Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff promises major reforms | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has proposed a referendum on political reforms in an effort to tackle protests that have swept the country. | Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has proposed a referendum on political reforms in an effort to tackle protests that have swept the country. |
| She also promised to boost spending on public transport and focus on health and education as part of what she called "five pacts" with the people. | |
| She later met regional mayors and governors, who agreed to her plans. | |
| But some activists promised to carry on with the largest protests Brazil has seen for at least two decades. | |
| Mayara Longo Vivian, a leader of the Free Fare Movement, said the president had offered no concrete measures and that the "fight would continue". | |
| On Monday evening, there were fresh demonstrations in several cities, although they appeared to be smaller than those that led to clashes with police last week. | On Monday evening, there were fresh demonstrations in several cities, although they appeared to be smaller than those that led to clashes with police last week. |
| Hundreds of people blocked the main road to Brazil's busiest port, Santos. | Hundreds of people blocked the main road to Brazil's busiest port, Santos. |
| In the capital, Brasilia, hundreds came out to protest against corruption. | In the capital, Brasilia, hundreds came out to protest against corruption. |
| Another rally took place in Rio de Janeiro. | Another rally took place in Rio de Janeiro. |
| Two women were killed at a protest in the central state of Goias, not far from Brasilia. Police said they were killed by a driver who sped through a roadblock they had set up with other protesters. | Two women were killed at a protest in the central state of Goias, not far from Brasilia. Police said they were killed by a driver who sped through a roadblock they had set up with other protesters. |
| The deaths brings to four the total number of lives lost in the unrest. | The deaths brings to four the total number of lives lost in the unrest. |
| 'Signals' | 'Signals' |
| The president met leaders of one protest faction before meeting with state governors and mayors. | The president met leaders of one protest faction before meeting with state governors and mayors. |
| "My government is listening to democratic voices," she told a televised news conference. | "My government is listening to democratic voices," she told a televised news conference. |
| "We must learn to hear the voices of the street. We all must, without exception, understand these signals with humility and accuracy. | "We must learn to hear the voices of the street. We all must, without exception, understand these signals with humility and accuracy. |
| "Brazil is ready to move forward and has made it clear it does not want to stand where it is." | "Brazil is ready to move forward and has made it clear it does not want to stand where it is." |
| Ms Rousseff's five "pacts" with the people covered political reform, fiscal responsibility and extra spending on health, transport and education. | Ms Rousseff's five "pacts" with the people covered political reform, fiscal responsibility and extra spending on health, transport and education. |
| She proposed holding a referendum to establish a Constituent Assembly that would eventually amend Brazil's constitution, and said her government would allocate 50 billion reais ($25bn, £16bn) for new investments in urban mobility projects and to improve public transport. | She proposed holding a referendum to establish a Constituent Assembly that would eventually amend Brazil's constitution, and said her government would allocate 50 billion reais ($25bn, £16bn) for new investments in urban mobility projects and to improve public transport. |
| The president also stressed the need for fiscal responsibility from governors and mayors, suggested tougher penalties for corruption, and warned against any repeat of the violence that was seen last Thursday. | The president also stressed the need for fiscal responsibility from governors and mayors, suggested tougher penalties for corruption, and warned against any repeat of the violence that was seen last Thursday. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Rio de Janeiro says the mass movement that surprised many when it grew so quickly still lacks leadership and is made up of many different people with different complaints and demands. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Rio de Janeiro says the mass movement that surprised many when it grew so quickly still lacks leadership and is made up of many different people with different complaints and demands. |
| Whether that momentum continues will depend on how organisers on social networks and those who have been so far taking to the streets react to Ms Rousseff's promises, our correspondent adds. | Whether that momentum continues will depend on how organisers on social networks and those who have been so far taking to the streets react to Ms Rousseff's promises, our correspondent adds. |
| 'No plan B' | 'No plan B' |
| Ms Rousseff faces re-election next year, when Brazil is also due to host the football World Cup. Rio de Janeiro will also host the Olympics in 2016. | Ms Rousseff faces re-election next year, when Brazil is also due to host the football World Cup. Rio de Janeiro will also host the Olympics in 2016. |
| Many of those demonstrating are unhappy at the cost of building stadiums in a country where many live in poverty and ticket prices for such prestigious international competitions are out of reach. | Many of those demonstrating are unhappy at the cost of building stadiums in a country where many live in poverty and ticket prices for such prestigious international competitions are out of reach. |
| Unrest has dogged many of the fixtures currently taking place in Brazil as part of Fifa's Confederations Cup, seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and using many of the same facilities. | Unrest has dogged many of the fixtures currently taking place in Brazil as part of Fifa's Confederations Cup, seen as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and using many of the same facilities. |
| Fifa's Secretary General Jerome Valcke has said the organisation has "no plan B" for next year's World Cup. | Fifa's Secretary General Jerome Valcke has said the organisation has "no plan B" for next year's World Cup. |
| The wave of rallies in more than 100 cities began in Sao Paulo, where residents were unhappy at planned rises in public-transport fares. | The wave of rallies in more than 100 cities began in Sao Paulo, where residents were unhappy at planned rises in public-transport fares. |
| Those increases have since been shelved, but the protests rapidly became more widespread and the protesters' demands more wide-ranging. | Those increases have since been shelved, but the protests rapidly became more widespread and the protesters' demands more wide-ranging. |
| Brazilians have been demanding better health and education, saying they are fed up with paying relatively high taxes and feel that they do not get enough back from the state. | Brazilians have been demanding better health and education, saying they are fed up with paying relatively high taxes and feel that they do not get enough back from the state. |
| Protesters are also angry about corruption and are scornful of politicians. | Protesters are also angry about corruption and are scornful of politicians. |