- Title: BRAZIL: Protests continue against controversial oil field auction
- Date: 21st October 2013
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 21, 2013) (REUTERS) PROTEST MARCH, WAVING FLAGS PROTESTERS WAVE FLAGS FROM BEHIND MAKESHIFT WALL, FROM SHEET METAL WHICH ARE USED AS A SHIELD MASKED PROTESTERS THROWING STONES AND BREAKING GLASS MASKED PROTESTER TRYING TO POKE OUT TRAFFIC LIGHT FIRE IN STREET, SCATTERED PROTESTERS MASKED PROTESTER TIPS OVER TRASH CAN, SPILLING USED COCONUTS MASKED PROTESTERS THROWING OBJECTS ON TO FIRE MASKED PROTESTER THROWING OBJECTS MASKED PROTESTER KICKING AT TEAR GAS CANISTER PROTESTERS BEHIND THEIR BARRICADE WITH FLAGS WHILE MASKED PROTESTERS STAND AROUND FIRE PROTESTER WITH MASKED PROTESTERS AROUND SMALL FIRE VARIOUS OF PROTESTER BAGGING USED TEAR GAS CANISTERS MASKED PROTESTERS ADVANCE BEHIND SHIELD VARIOUS OF POLICE REACTING TO VIOLENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED PASSER-BY, SAYING: "This here is unbelievable. Since the morning they have been attacking without reason, just people in general. There were just old people and children and they were shooting bombs (of tear gas)." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED OBSERVER, SAYING: "A country that has been growing so well and then you have a day like this where you lose the path. If it continues in this manner it is going to be a catastrophe." COUPLE CARRYING THEIR LUGGAGE ALONG THE BEACH IN A HURRY ONE POLICEMAN FIRES TEAR GAS IN THE AIR AS TWO OTHERS STAND BY WITH SHIELDS
- Embargoed: 5th November 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA52HG0KNR3D8UQVDQ6TQXG4OTJ
- Story Text: Clashes between police, troops and protesters continued outside a Rio hotel on Monday (October 21) ahead of a controversial oil field auction.
The auction of the Libra offshore oil area is set to begin later in the day on Monday.
Protesters hurled stones, broke glass and lit small fires as police unleashed tear gas to drive back the protesters.
The auction has sparked widespread nationalist protests even though most of the world's premier energy companies opted to stay away.
More than a thousand troops have been deployed around the beach front Rio de Janeiro hotel where the auction will take place.
One eye-witness condemned the security operation.
"This here is unbelievable. Since the morning they have been attacking without reason, just people in general. There were just old people and children and they were shooting bombs (of tear gas)."
Another witness warned of the pitfalls of violence.
"A country that has been growing so well and then you have a day like this where you lose the path. If it continues in this manner it is going to be a catastrophe."
Libra holds between 8 billion and 12 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Oil unions are on strike against the planned sale and some groups have gone to court to try to stop the auction, calling it a sell-out of precious national resources to foreign interests.
Only 11 companies have so far signed up for the auction. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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