Rio, 3/4/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Military Police and a Brazilian SWAT team (Batalhão de Choque e do Grupamento Tático Móvel) were called out to quell a riot in a slum area known as Pavão-Pavãozinho located near Copacabana, southern region of metropolitan Rio de Janeiro. Inhabitants of the slum closed off roads with burning tires and wooden boxes, and invaded restaurants and supermarkets.

A total of 100 police were used to control the situation. The trouble began around 7:30 pm when rival gangs disputing drug traffic began fighting. Four people were reported dead from gunshot wounds. The conflict lasted some four hours. (AB)