Brazil protests spread

Local tour operators have confirmed that none of its scheduled tours have been affected by the current protests across Brazil over recent days.

Massive protests have spread across Brazil with protestors taking to the streets and disrupting traffic.

The biggest demonstrations were in Rio de Janeiro, where more than 100 000 people joined a mainly peaceful march. In the capital, Brasilia, people breached security at the National Congress building and scaled its roof. The protests are the largest seen in Brazil for more than 20 years.

The trigger was a June 2 increase in the price of a single bus fare in Sao Paulo from 3 reals to 3.20.

In the country soon due to host the World Cup and Olympics, many are now complaining that vast sums of money are being wasted instead of used for health and education. Political leaders have also been accused of nepotism and corruption.

Demonstrations have been reported to be relatively peaceful, though some people were reported throwing rocks at police, wounding five officers and setting fire to a car and vandalising the state assembly building, starting a small blaze.