Brasília, 5/6/2004 (Agência Brasil) - Minister of Defense, José Viegas, reports that army soldiers will be sent to Rio de Janeiro to assist local authorities in intelligence gathering, inspection, weapons and ammunition, and special equipment. He added that eventually they may be used in joint operations with state police to disarm organized criminal gangs in the city.

The soldiers will operate under Army command. Viegas said that the exact numbers of soldiers to be deployed has not been decided. "President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has decided that everything possible should be done to assist the people of Rio de Janeiro in the area of public security and that is what we are doing," said the minister.

Translator: Allen Bennett