Brazilians rally against Olympic Games, social segregation

Clashes have broken out between police and demonstrators, who took to the streets of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to protest against Olympic Games and social segregation.

The confrontations came after protesters tried to block the passage of the Olympic torch relay, in the city of Niteroi, in Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, on Tuesday.

According to reports, police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators and detained at least three individuals.

Social justice campaigners rallied to protest against the “segregation” of their city, which they say the Olympic Games have worsened.

The campaigners called Rio 2016 “The Exclusion Games,” criticizing how large sporting events, such as the upcoming Olympics, have been used by politicians to push an agenda that divides the city.

“All these events, like the World Cup, the Pan-American and the Olympic Games, produced a process of space segregation that is even greater than what Rio de Janeiro had before,” protester Fernando Maldonado said.

The Brazilian federal government has recently authorized $890 million dollars in emergency aid to Rio to help provide necessary security and infrastructure.

The Games, which are set to start in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, are expected to attract millions of people from around the world.

The development comes as Brazilian Special Senate Committee rapporteur Antonio Anastasia on Tuesday called for the continuation of the impeachment proceedings against suspended President Dilma Rousseff.

Anastasia presented his report, containing 440 pages, to the committee earlier in the day.

The report found that leftist leader violated the constitution by manipulating government accounts, moving her drawn-out impeachment trial closer to deciding her fate.

The report is expected to be approved by the impeachment committee on Friday and by the full Senate next Tuesday. A simple majority would suffice and the measure is expected to pass easily.

Then the final trial session would begin on August 26 and last about a week, with a final vote on September 2.

The impeachment of Rousseff has paralyzed Brazilian politics for seven months and held interim President Michel Temer in a legal limbo that has hindered his efforts to pull Brazil from fiscal crisis and severe recession.

Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.

If the trial in August acquits Rousseff, she will be allowed to serve out her term until 2018. But if it removes her permanently, then Temer will stay in office until the end of 2018.

Rousseff has vowed to call early elections if she survives the impeachment trial and is reinstated as president.

A team of independent auditors released a 224-page report in June, concluding that there was no evidence of Rousseff having participated in the budget manipulation.

She is also under fire over a graft scandal at state oil company Petrobras, where she was the manager before taking office as president in 2010.

Rousseff has denied the allegations and repeatedly asserted that she has fallen victim to a plot by the extreme right. She has also accused the opposition of mounting a coup attempt through the impeachment bid.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk