Tens of thousands of Brazilians have once again taken to the streets in Sao Paolo, protesting at the high cost of staging the World Cup next year.
The protests followed Monday night's demonstrations in the country's biggest city as residents vent their anger about the high cost of public transport - and its inefficiency - and a government that they see is riddled with corruption.
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in an effort to halt the protests, has promised to listen to the complaints of those angered by the high cost of staging the world's greatest football show.
In an address at the presidential palace, she said: "These voices need to be heard. My government is listening to these voices for change."
"My government is committed to social transformation," she added, praising what she called the largely peaceful nature of the protests.
Ms Rousseff said she was planning to hold talks with her predecessor and mentor, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while local media reports said Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad was to join the discussions, expected to focus on a reduction of mass transit fares.
Several Brazilian cities, including Porto Alegre and Recife, moved cut public transport fares as a concession to the demonstrators.
Sao Paulo's bus ticket price rise was the catalyst for a nation-wide explosion of anger over the $15bn (£9.5bn) the government is investing in major sporting events while social needs like education and health are neglected.
Monday's demonstrations involving some 250,000 people, were the biggest in Brazil since those against corruption in 1992 under the rule of Fernando Collor de Mello, who was subsequently impeached.
Several players from the national football squad have expressed solidarity, including Chelsea defender David Luiz.
"I'm in favour of demonstrations without violence," he told reporters prior to Brazil's Conderations Cup match against Mexico in Fortaleza.
"Citizens have a right to express their opinions and the fact they're not happy. It's a way of achieving their demands and improving the situation in the country."
Luiz's international teammate Dani Alves, the Barcelona full-back, also gave his backing to the protesters, who are mostly young people.
The protests followed Monday night's demonstrations in the country's biggest city as residents vent their anger about the high cost of public transport - and its inefficiency - and a government that they see is riddled with corruption.
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in an effort to halt the protests, has promised to listen to the complaints of those angered by the high cost of staging the world's greatest football show.
In an address at the presidential palace, she said: "These voices need to be heard. My government is listening to these voices for change."
"My government is committed to social transformation," she added, praising what she called the largely peaceful nature of the protests.
Ms Rousseff said she was planning to hold talks with her predecessor and mentor, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while local media reports said Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad was to join the discussions, expected to focus on a reduction of mass transit fares.
Several Brazilian cities, including Porto Alegre and Recife, moved cut public transport fares as a concession to the demonstrators.
Sao Paulo's bus ticket price rise was the catalyst for a nation-wide explosion of anger over the $15bn (£9.5bn) the government is investing in major sporting events while social needs like education and health are neglected.
Monday's demonstrations involving some 250,000 people, were the biggest in Brazil since those against corruption in 1992 under the rule of Fernando Collor de Mello, who was subsequently impeached.
Several players from the national football squad have expressed solidarity, including Chelsea defender David Luiz.
"I'm in favour of demonstrations without violence," he told reporters prior to Brazil's Conderations Cup match against Mexico in Fortaleza.
"Citizens have a right to express their opinions and the fact they're not happy. It's a way of achieving their demands and improving the situation in the country."
Luiz's international teammate Dani Alves, the Barcelona full-back, also gave his backing to the protesters, who are mostly young people.
Source : SkyNews
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