Clashes at Brazil teacher protest

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.

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.

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.

Brazil's security situation is a challenge to cities that will play host to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

Source: BBC