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Clashes after teachers protests in Rio and Sao Paulo | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Protesters have clashed with the police in Brazil's largest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, after marches in support of striking teachers. | |
Soon after a peaceful march by more than 5,000 people ended in Rio, a much smaller masked group attacked shops, set fire to a police car and threw petrol bombs. | |
There were also clashes in Sao Paulo, where shops were ransacked. | |
Police responded with tear and pepper gas and detained a number of people. | |
Extra police had been deployed in Rio de Janeiro for the huge protest coinciding with Teacher's Day, on which the country recognises the profession. | |
Many shops and banks had boarded up their windows after last week's larger protests, which had gathered more than 10,000 supporters. | |
Police also cordoned off the Rio house of representatives, which was targeted last week. | |
'Right to strike' | |
After the end of Tuesday's march, masked protesters set fire to the boards, as well as public telephones, rubbish bags and other street furniture. | |
Metal boards were also taken by some groups and used as shield to confront the police. | |
A police car was burnt down and protest slogans written on walls. | |
Teachers in Rio are demanding better working conditions and salaries and have the support of colleagues in other cities. | Teachers in Rio are demanding better working conditions and salaries and have the support of colleagues in other cities. |
They have been on strike for two months and many complained that Rio's state government had started procedures to sanction the striking teachers. | |
But on Tuesday night, a Supreme Court judge said it considered the government's actions illegal. | |
"[The sanctions] discourage, even if in a round-about way, the civil servant's right to freedom of expressions through strike, a truly fundamental guarantee," judge Luiz Fux told Brazil's state news agency, Agencia Brasil. | |
Mr Fux also summoned union leaders and government officials for talks on 22 October. | |
Sao Paulo | |
Clashes also erupted in Sao Paulo after masked protesters ransacked shops and threw petrol bombs at the police, who responded by firing tear and pepper gas and making a number of arrests. | |
An earlier demonstration on Tuesday by homeless workers tried to break into the house of representatives of Sao Paulo. | |
Police held off the crowd, and a small group later met with government officials. | Police held off the crowd, and a small group later met with government officials. |
In the south-eastern city of Belo Horizonte, a peaceful protest crowded a central square. | In the south-eastern city of Belo Horizonte, a peaceful protest crowded a central square. |
Smaller crowds also gathered on Tuesday in Brasilia, the north eastern city of Salvador and other cities. | |
Teachers have been demanding a pay increase for two months. | Teachers have been demanding a pay increase for two months. |
Brazil's security situation is a challenge to cities that will play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. | Brazil's security situation is a challenge to cities that will play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. |