Mass riots in sunny Rio: Over 30 injured

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Brazilian cities to protest against the growing public transport fees amid generous spending on the organization of the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

Photo: AP photo

The protests have become the largest in Brazil in more than 20 years. In Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, demonstrations turned into clashes with police. At least 30 people, 20 of them policemen have been injured during the riots.

To disperse the demonstrators in Sao Paulo, local authorities had to use  armored vehicles, helicopters, cavalry and special forces.

Protesters claim that they are highly concerned about high prices on transport. Brazil will soon host the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, and people complain that huge amounts of money are being wasted instead of being spent on health care or education.

The protests have already embraced eleven Brazilian cities.