Violence breaks out at protest

pulse

May 24, 2017 8:54 PM

Organized by leftist groups and trade unions, the protesters poured into the center of Brazil's capital and advanced on the Planalto presidential palace.

Demonstrators in Brasilia were protesting against austerity reforms and the government of President Michel Temer

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades Wednesday in confrontations with a crowd of at least 25,000 marching on

Organized by leftist groups and trade unions, the protesters poured into the center of Brazil's capital and advanced on the Planalto presidential palace. Police stopped them from approaching further with a barrage of gas, while some protesters threw stones back.

"Out with Temer," the crowd chanted.

Brazil's left smells blood just over a year since Temer took over from Workers' Party president Dilma Rousseff after she was impeached for illegally manipulating government accounts.

Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, is reeling from a probe into his alleged corruption and opponents say he could soon be removed from power.

The future of his market-friendly reforms package -- especially cuts in the country's generous but unaffordable pension system -- is equally unclear.

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