Brazil cities brace for new protests

Brazil cities brace for new protests

Security is being increased in Brazil's biggest cities after

protesters announced they would go ahead with mass demonstrations

planned for Thursday.



Protesters in Sao Paulo said they would take to the streets "to

celebrate" the reversal of a public-transport fare increase announced

on Wednesday.



The protests, which were originally triggered by the increase, have

since grown into a much wider movement.



Demonstrators are angry at corruption and spending on next year's World Cup.



Fenced off

The authorities in the city of Rio de Janeiro have erected barricades

around the state legislature building, which was vandalised during

protests on Monday.



The state governor's office, Guanabara Palace, has also been secured

by a double layer of barricades.



Workers have also fenced off the elevated walkways opposite the

mayor's office and at central underground train stations.



Protesters told the BBC's Julia Carneiro in Rio they would not march

to the city's Maracana stadium, which will be hosting a Confederations

Cup match between Spain and Tahiti at the time.