Police open fire on furious Brazilian demonstrators as they descend on president's home amid violent clashes as 35 MILLION join national strike

• 35 million Brazilians stayed away from work across the country during the strike on Friday
• Dramatic images show police firing tear gas at protesters who are ransacking their cities and starting fires
• They are furious at proposed changes to labour laws and the pension system by President Michael Temer

Riot police fire their weapons during a protest in the Pinheiros neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, as widespread riots broke out over government austerity measures

Furious demonstrators marched on the home of Brazil's under-fire president, as police officers opened fire on rioters in violent clashes during a public strike.

More than 35 million people stayed away from work during the nationwide strike in Brazil yesterday, as anger boiled over around controversial government austerity measures.

Protesters lit flares outside the home of President Michel Timer, throwing rocks at police in clashes which saw stun grenades fired at those who attempted to break through barriers.  

In capital Rio de Janeiro, after hours of clashes with police in front of the legislative building, several buses were torched.

Military police on a motorcycle fire at protesters in Rio de Janeiro during violent clashes as thousands took to the streets during a nationwide strike

Demonstrators lit flares outside the home of Brazilian president Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, as angry protests were held across the country and more than 30 million people went on strike

A man smashes the windscreen of a truck belonging to a subway maintenance crew during clashes with police at a general strike in the Brazilian capital yesterday

  

A man covers his face during last night's protests in Rio de Jeneiro as buses burn behind him in a huge wave of government opposition

A riot police officer fires tear gas toward demonstrators amid violent scenes in Rio de Janeiro during anti-austerity protests across the country

Riot police fired their weapons during a protest in Sao Paulo yesterday, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in opposition to the president's plans

Thousands flooded the streets in anger against labour law and pension reforms, raising questions about whether President Temer will be able to push his proposals through Congress. 

Temer's administration argues that more flexible labor rules will revive a moribund economy and warns the pension system will go bankrupt without changes. 

Unions and other groups called for the strike, saying that the changes before Congress will make workers too vulnerable and strip away too many benefits.

Buses burned and roads were blocked in a raw demonstration of anger against corruption, and the strike was called as Brazilians worry about the future amid a deep recession and rising unemployment.

In a statement last night, Mr Temer characterised the protesters as 'small groups' that blocked the roads and streets. He said his administration was working to help Brazilians workers overcome the country's economic malaise.  

Buses burn after protesters set them alight during the strikes called by unions against austerity measures brought in by President Michel Temer

Thousands took to the streets to protest on a day when 35 million Brazilians took part in a strike to show their opposition to President Temer's proposals

Large crowds filled the streets of Sao Paulo to demonstrate against under-fire president Michel Temer's controversial labour reforms

Demonstrators and police clash during a strike in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Millions stayed home, but thousands flooded the streets in anger

Demonstrators held running battles with police throughout the night as scenes of violence broke out following a national strike across Brazil

Two buses alight following violent clashes between police and anti-austerity protesters in the Brazilian capital last night

Performance artists take part in a demonstration against under-fire Brazilian president Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, the city where he lives, last night

A riot police officer fire tear gas toward demonstrators during the protest, which raises questions about whether President Michel Temer will be able to push his proposals through Congress

A military police officer throws a tyre out of a burning barricate during the protest against President Michel Temer's proposals

Demonstrators set barricades on fire in Vale do Anhangabau in Sao Paulo. Unions and other groups called for the strike, saying that the changes before Congress will make workers too vulnerable and strip away too many benefits

Demonstrators stand near a burning barricade on BR-116 road

A bus burns. Public transport largely came to a halt across much of Brazil on Friday

A policeman gestures as members of Brazil's Movimento dos Sem-Teto (Roofless Movement) try open the front door of a vacant building during an occupation in the centre of Sao Paulo

Another officer lets off tear gas (right). Firefighters arrive to control a burning barricade on Dutra roa (right)

Demonstrators clash with riot police in a protest against President Michel Temer's proposal reform

A demonstrator walks past a barricade which was set alight during yesterday's fierce protests in Rio de Janeiro

Flares were lit during a protest in the Pinheiros neighbourhood in Sao Paulo as protests were held across the country over controversial new labour laws 

The burned out shell of a bus in Rio de Janeiro, where angry protesters set light to vehicles in a night of violence in protest over government plans

A bus burns in Rio de Janeiro after being set alight during the country-wide demonstrations yesterday

In one the largest demonstrations Friday, thousands of protesters gathered in front Rio de Janeiro's state assembly in the afternoon and were fighting pitched battles with police who tried to remove them. 

Police fired tear gas while protesters threw stones and lit small fires in the middle of streets around the legislative building in downtown.

A few hundred more protesters massed on a major avenue in Sao Paulo, where police told downtown shopkeepers to close early, apparently out of concern that protesters might head there. Throughout the day, 21 people were arrested in Sao Paulo, according to military police.

Earlier in the day, most commuter trains and metro lines were stopped in Sao Paulo during the height of morning commute, and all buses stayed off the roads. Buses ran partial service during the morning in Rio de Janeiro but later began returning to normal. The metro was closed for the day in the capital of Brasilia.

Some protesters also set up barricades and started fires in the streets, including on roads heading to the main airports in Sao Paulo. In Rio, protesters created confusion by running through Santos Dumont Airport, and others blocked a major road.

A man takes a selfie in front a burning bus in Rio de Janeiro during the protests yesterday, which saw a national strike descend into violence

A demonstrator hurls a rock at a burning car during the general strike in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, which 35 million people took part in 

Demonstrators prepare barricades during the protest against under-fire Brazilian president Michel Temer's plans

A demonstrator is detained by riot polic. Throughout the day, 21 people were arrested in Sao Paulo, according to military police

A man smashes the window of a Burger King. Police told downtown shopkeepers to close early, apparently out of concern that protesters might head there

A bus burns during clashes between demonstrators and riot police in a protest against President Michel Temer's proposal reform of Brazil's social security system

Protesters lit bonfires outside the House of Representatives in Rio de Janeiro yesterday as they made their opposition to the measures clear

A man covered in skeleton-like face paint stands on the streets during the protests, which turned ugly all over the country

The CUT union said around 35 million Brazilians didn't show up for work on Friday, more than one-third of the working population

Police spray water from cannons at demonstrators next to the Sao Paulo's University

Some plane mechanics joined the strike, according to the National Aeronautic Union, but the impact was minimal, with only a handful of flights canceled or delayed at the two cities' airports.

'We are demanding our rights, as workers, because the president of the country proposed a law for people to work more and live less, so you will only receive your pension when you die,' said Edgar Fernandes, a dock worker who was protesting in Rio.

The CUT union said around 35 million Brazilians didn't show up for work on Friday, more than one-third of the working population. 

But the government downplayed the strike, insisting that many Brazilians were still at work.

'We don't have a strike, we have widespread riots,' Justice Minister Osmar Serraglio said on Joven Pam radio.

Office furniture was set alight by protest groups in the streets of Rio de Janeiro during the demonstrations yesterday

A masked demonstrator holds his arm aloft after protesters set a bus alight in the Brazilian capital yesterday

A woman stands injured with blood on her forehead after being struck by a projectile

A masked demonstrator exits an office that protesters ransacked after clashes with police broke out

Thousands of protesters march in Brasilia during the union-backed strike across the South American country yesterday

Firefighters were called into action as buses were set on fire during furious protests over the government proposals

A line of military police walk across the street as citizens rose up against the controversial plans put forward by President Temer

A woman is covered in blood after getting injured by a rubber bullet

Demonstrators take part in a national strike against the labour and social welfare reform bill. The government downplayed the strike, insisting that many Brazilians were still at work

An angry protester throws a stone amid clouds of tear gas during clashes with the police next to Sao Paulo's University

A demonstrator kicks a vehicle in. Earlier in the day, most commuter trains and metro lines were stopped in Sao Paulo during the height of morning commute, and all buses stayed off the roads

A protester throws a can of tear gas back at police. Brazil's economy is in a deep recession, and many Brazilians are frustrated with Temer's government

Police officers stand guard as protestors demonstrate at Ipiranga Ave. in Sao Paulo

Brazil's economy is in a deep recession, and many Brazilians are frustrated with Temer's government. Temer has argued that the proposed changes will benefit Brazilians in the long run. But with so many out of work, many feel they can ill afford any cuts to their benefits.

Underscoring the economic malaise, the IBGE statistics agency announced on Friday that unemployment had jumped to 13.7 percent in the first quarter of the year, up from 12 percent.

The anger over the proposed changes to benefits shows that Temer's government has failed to convince the people that the moves are necessary, said Oliver Stuenkel, who teaches international relations at the Fundacao Getulio Vargas university in Sao Paulo. 

And yet, the proposed laws have been moving fairly easily through Congress, and had been expected to eventually pass.

'This is a peculiar government that has low approval and still gets work done in Congress,' he said. 'But lawmakers also think of their re-elections next year. After today, there could be a bigger risk for Temer in getting any meaningful bills passed.' 

Members of Brazil's Movimento dos Sem-Teto (Roofless Movement) shout slogans to Police as they try open the front door of a vacant building during an occupation of an empty building in the centre of Sao Paulo

Windows were smashed outside stores during the protest made by groups angry over the government proposals

Brazilians angered at the government proposals turned out in their thousands during the widespread protests against austerity measures

Demonstrators set barricades on fire in Vale do Anhangabau in Sao Paulo. It was a day of ugly scenes for the South American nation

(Culled from the Mail, UK)