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56 people arrested during rallies in Rio

13 July 2013 02:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Fifty-six people have been arrested for alleged vandalism during two rallies held Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, the Military Police said Friday in a statement, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to the statement, 26 people were arrested during a rally held in downtown, while 30 others were arrested in front of Guanabara Palace, seat of the state's government.

The police said all the arrested people had committed " vandalism acts", such as throwing Molotov cocktails and other objects against police agents in charge of upholding public order during both rallies.

Three people were injured during the incidents, including a police officer due to a blow with a stone in the head. Two cars were set on fire and a police post was destroyed in downtown Rio.

The police used tear gas against the protesters and a subway station near the seat of the government had to be closed.

Rio de Janeiro's governor Sergio Cabral issued a statement in which he condemned vandalism during "the legitimate protests" and affirmed "vandalism will not be tolerated," warning that " the groups that have the clear goal to cause panic and destroy public and private properties" will be punished.

The two rallies were held in the framework of the National Fight Day, called by the main Brazilian unions to demand the reduction of working day and other workers' rights, gathering some 105,000 people in the main cities.

In some cities, the workers paralyzed public transportation.