Police in Brazil have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters as unrest continues across the country.
A quarter of a million people have taken to the streets in more than a dozen cities across Brazil over the past few days.
At least 30,000 people rallied in the northeastern city of Fortaleza ahead of a soccer international between Brazil and Mexico.
The BBC’s Ben Smith in Fortaleza says that during the protest some demonstrators carried banners reading: “A teacher is worth more than Neymar” – in a reference to Brazil’s star footballer who played – and scored a goal – against Mexico.
The unrest was sparked by transport price hikes in Sao Paulo but it has now grown into broader discontent over poor public services and corruption
Many of the demonstrators have complained of the huge sums spent on construction for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro.
The Australian government’s Smart Traveller website has not updated its travel advice for Brazil since March, advising travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution", related to "high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities".
by Ian Jarrett
