Nelson Motta
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasilia - The press office of the Presidency released a note last night expressing solidarity and support for the Congress following the invasion of the Congress building yesterday by members of the Movement for Liberation of the Landless (Movimento de Libertação dos Sem Terra) (MLST).

The note said that the Palacio do Planalto considered the event "...a grave act of vandalism committed against the Parliament... a public area where society can manifest itself legitimately and peacefully. As such [the violent attack on the Congress building] struck at the principles of democracy and should be dealt with by rigorously applying the law."

The note added that "The Presidency is certain that other social movements do not share the violent attitudes expressed against an institution which symbolizes the liberty and sovereignty that Brazil has obtained at such great effort."

Translation: Allen Bennett