Brazil calls in military to curb Rio violence
Source: Reuters
BRASILIA, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's president ordered the military to Rio de Janeiro on Thursday to help curb a wave of gang violence that has killed about 20 people in the beachside city in about a week. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva issued the order after receiving a request Wednesday from Rio de Janeiro state Gov. Sergio Cabral asking for support from the military police and also from the army, navy and air force. "Both requests were attended," a presidential spokeswoman told Reuters. The defense minister and the head of Brazil's national security cabinet are still deciding how many troops will be deployed, when they will go and how long they will stay, she said. Cabral, a Lula ally who was sworn in as state governor Monday, has said he initially plans to have the national military police help patrol state borders while armed forces patrol areas near their barracks. Rio de Janeiro, an important tourist and business center, suffered a wave of gang violence last week in which seven people were burned alive on a bus and two policemen were shot dead. Lula called the attacks "terrorism" that should be treated by the Brazilian state. The city has calmed but scattered episodes of violence have continued. Before dawn Thursday, a van filled with tourists was stopped by armed men on the highway and everyone inside was robbed. Rio will host a summit of presidents from South America's Mercosur trade bloc later this month. It will hold its famous Carnival parade at the height of the tourist season in February and also the Pan American Games in July. In 2003, some 3,000 federal troops were sent in to maintain order during Rio's Carnival after drug gangs torched buses, killed seven police officers and forced shops to close.
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